Brahamaputra Basin

Brahamaputra Basin
3.2.2 Hydro Electric Projects
The Brahmaputra basin has abundant hydropower potential. This region possesses as much as 41
per cent of the country's total hydropower potential. As per the latest assessment the hydropower
potential of the sub-basin is 31,012 MW at 60% load factor. A large chunk of the hydropower
potential of the sub-basin remains to be tapped.
Several hydropower projects of this region like the Kopili (200 MW), Khandong (75 MW), Karbi
Langpi (100 MW) of Assam, Lower Subansiri (2,000 MW), Dibang (3000 MW), Kameng (600 MW),
and Ranganadi (405 MW) of Arunachal Pradesh, Teesta-V (510 MW) of West Bengal, Umiam-Umtru
Power Complex (174 MW) of Meghalaya etc. are presently at various stages of planning and
development.
Salient feature of the important hydropower projects of Brahmaputra basin with their status are
given below-
a) Kopili (Operational): This project consists of Umrong dam on Umrong River, a tributary of
Brahmaputra River. The power house is located at a distance of 70 km from Lanka in Assam.
Kopili power house has 4 units of 50 MW each, with mean annual inflow of 2,860 MCM.
NEEPCO commissioned the project during 1988-97 which has a firm power of 54 MW. For
power generation, the surface power house has Vertical Francis Turbines, which work at net
rated head of 99m. Its annual generation is likely to be 1186.14 MU.
b) Khandong (Operational): This project consists of a dam on Khandong River, a tributary of
Brahmaputra, is located at a distance of 70 km from Lanka in Assam. Khandong power house
has 3 units of 25 MW each, with mean annual inflow of 2,860 MCM and provides firm power of
13 MW. NEEPCO commissioned the project in 1984. Its annual generation is likely to be 277.60
MU. For power generation, the surface power house has Vertical Francis Turbines, which work
at net rated head of 326.5 m. Khandong and Kopili projects have now included under the
Khadong Kopil Complex.
c) Karbi Langpi (Operational): Karbi Langpi dam on Borapani River, a tributary of Brahmaputra
river located near Hamren of Karbi Anglong district, Assam. Karbi Langpi power house has 2
units of 50 MW each, with mean annual inflow of 906 MCM and it’s annual generation is likely
to be 390 MU. For power generation, the surface power house has Vertical Francis Turbines,
which work at net rated head of 240 m. Karbi Langpi project is under control of APGCL.
d) Lower Subansiri (Under Construction): Subansiri lower power houseis under construction in the
Subansiri River in lower Subansiri / Dhemaji Disttrict (Arunachal Pradesh / Assam). The power
house has 8 units of 250 MW of each generation capacity, with mean annual inflow of 44,119
MCM. The expected annual generation is 7,422 MU in 90% dependable year. Lower Subansiri
project is under NHPC Ltd.
e) Ranganadi (Operational): This project has been constructed on Ranganadi River, a tributary of
Brahmaputra River, 50 km from Zir City in Arunachal Pradesh. Ranganadi power house has 3
units of 135 MW each, with maximum and minimum annual inflow of 5,080 and 2,048 MCM
respectively. For power generations, the surface power house has Vertical Francis Turbines
which work at net rated Max. /Mini. Head of 322/290 m. It has a firm power of 65 MW.
NEEPCO commissioned the project in 2002.
f) Kameng (Under Construction): Kameng hydropower house is under construction in the Bichom
& Tenga River in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. The power house has 4 units of
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