Uttarakhand Receives Major Boost: Sirkari Bhyol Rupasiya Bagad Hydroelectric Project Gets In-Principle Approval
The project, which has a proposed capacity of 120 MW, will be located on the Gauriganga River in Pithoragarh district
In a major step towards energy self-reliance and sustainable development, the Sirkari Bhyol Rupasiya Bagad Hydroelectric Project in Uttarakhand has received in-principle approval from the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The announcement was made following a crucial meeting held at Indira Paryavaran Bhawan in New Delhi.
The project, which has a proposed capacity of 120 MW, will be located on the Gauriganga River in Pithoragarh district. The FAC has agreed to the transfer of 29.997 hectares of forest land required for its implementation.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, whose consistent efforts and advocacy for the project played a key role, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the central support. The CM emphasized that the hydro project marks a historic milestone for the holistic development of Uttarakhand’s border areas.
“This project will serve as a foundation stone for a bright future in Uttarakhand. With the continued guidance and support of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state is achieving remarkable progress in energy generation and employment opportunities,” said CM Dhami.
Designed with an environmentally sensitive approach, the project includes approximately 1 km of tunnel construction, with the majority of its infrastructure being underground. This minimizes environmental impact and avoids displacement of any local population. Notably, no national park, wildlife sanctuary, or eco-sensitive zone falls within the project site.
Once operational, the hydroelectric plant is expected to generate an estimated 529 million units of clean energy annually, meeting local energy demands and supporting the state’s push towards energy independence.
Apart from power generation, the project is expected to bring a slew of benefits to the local communities, including permanent and temporary employment, improvement of local infrastructure, and a reduction in migration from the region.
The CM had earlier personally appealed to Prime Minister Modi and Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav for swift clearance of the project, underlining its strategic and developmental importance.
This in-principle clearance marks a crucial step forward for Uttarakhand’s energy future and sets the stage for sustainable development in one of India’s most ecologically and strategically significant regions.
