News And Update / Press Release

NHPC’s 800 MW Parbati-II Project (Himachal Pradesh) has achieved Commercial Operation of three of the four Units at 00:00 hrs on 01.04.2025. Commissioning of the fourth Unit is expected shortly. Speaking on the occasion, Shri R.K. Chaudhary, CMD, NHPC said, “It gives me immense pleasure to announce that 3 units of 200 MW each of NHPC’s ambitious 800 MW Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project, located in Himachal Pradesh, have been successfully commissioned during March 2025 and commercial operation has commenced today on 1st April, 2025.” He further added, “The Parbati-II Project is one of our most ambitious projects which had overcome numerous challenges and obstacles during its construction and this achievement stands as a testament to the hard work, dedication and teamwork of our committed employees.”
 
Parbati-II Hydroelectric Project with an installed capacity of 800MW (4 X 200 MW) is a run of the river scheme with small pondage constructed on river Parbati in Kullu district of Himachal Pradesh. The river Parbati has been diverted by constructing a 83.7m high concrete gravity dam near Village Pulga in Manikaran valley and water is being carried through a 31.56 km long Head Race Tunnel to Sainj valley where the Power House has been constructed at village Siund. A gross head of 862.50 m between Pulga and Siund is being utilized for generating 800 MW power. Discharge of five nallahs falling along the HRT alignment has further augmented the discharge of the river Parbati. The Power House has four Pelton turbines of 200 MW each.
 
The 31.56 km long HRT of the Project is the longest hydropower tunnel in India. Two inclined pressure shafts, each 1545.5m long, are the world’s longest inclined pressure shaft tunnels excavated with Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM).
The state of Himachal Pradesh will be getting 12% free power from the project and 1% additional free power shall be utilized for local area development fund.
 
Foundation stone of the Project was laid by the then Hon’ble Prime Minister Sh. Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 12.12.1999. The construction of the Project was started in September 2002. The Project has faced many challenges such as cloud bursts, flash floods, back-slope failure, heavy discharge & silt ingress and shear zones etc. during construction. The Project successfully overcame these challenges and utilized the discharge from Jiwa Nallah for generation at part load which was started in September 2018. Total 1130 Million Unit (MU) of electricity was generated as infirm power and about Rs. 182 Cr revenue was generated. The anticipated completion cost of the Project is Rs 13,045 Cr. The design energy of the project is 3074 MU. Commissioning of this Project will also increase generation capacity of 520 MW Parbati-III Power Station by 1262 MU per year.
 
In the Project area, 15 bridges and about 88 km of roads have been constructed by NHPC and Rs 112 Cr. has been disbursed for Local Area Development. NHPC has made a total expenditure of Rs 27.83 Cr under CSR and taken various initiatives in the areas of health, social and community welfare under this scheme. Permanent employment has been provided to 20 Project Affected People. At present 349 persons have been provided indirect employment out of which 98% belong to local area. Additionally, during construction of Project, 1361 persons were employed in the Project out of which 1171 belonged to Himachal Pradesh. Livelihood assistance is being provided to 370 Project Affected Families (PAFs). 58 vehicles have been hired from PAFs. Kendriya Vidyalaya is being run at Sainj for benefit of local populace costing more than Rs 4 Cr per year. Out of total 422 students in KV, 411 belong to local area. Funds to the tune of Rs. 4 Crore has been provided for construction of extension of Regional Hospital Building at Kullu.
 
NHPC is a green energy company harnessing power from renewable resources only. The commissioning of prestigious Parbati-II project is a feather in the cap for NHPC in its Golden Jubilee year.
 
NHPC Limited is a Navratana PSU under the aegis of Ministry of Power, Govt. of India. It is the largest hydropower development organization in India, with capabilities to undertake all the activities from conceptualization to commissioning of hydro projects. It has also diversified in the field of Solar and Wind energy development. The company has a total installed capacity of 7833 MW (including 1682 MW in Joint Venture) comprising 7571 MW from 23 Hydro Power Stations, 212 MW from five Solar Power Projects and 50 MW from a Wind Power Project. In addition to this, NHPC has a portfolio of 10,204 MW under construction projects comprising of nine hydro Projects of 8714 MW (including five projects of 3134 MW in Joint Venture) and seven Solar Projects of 1490 MW.
 
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Faridabad
01.04.2025