Odisha clears ₹4,708 crore pumped storage power project at Upper Indravati

The Odisha cabinet approved a ₹4,708 crore pumped storage power project at Ranibahal in Kalahandi district on 9 November, Chief Secretary Anu Garg told reporters.

The 600 MW Upper Indravati Pumped Storage Project is the first of its kind in the State, Ms. Garg said. It is to be commissioned by the 2030–31 financial year. Megha Engineering and Infrastructures has been chosen to build it. About ₹3,372 crore of the total is for construction.

How it works

A pumped storage plant works like a large battery. When there is spare electricity, for example from solar plants at midday, it pumps water up to a higher reservoir. When demand peaks, it lets the water flow back down through turbines to generate power. The plant will produce about 1,040 million units of electricity a year at peak times, officials said.

Such plants help grids use more solar and wind power, whose output rises and falls with the weather.

Other decisions

The cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, approved 13 proposals in all, the Hindustan Times reported. They included:

• Three water resources projects worth ₹450 crore, for in-stream storage and large lift irrigation units.
• Free Wi-Fi for college students.
• Unlimited attempts at the State civil services examination, up to the upper age limit.

What’s next

Work on the project can now begin, with the plant due to start running by 2030–31.