Powering Up Kerala: Idukki's Second Hydroelectric Station

The process to establish a second hydroelectric station under the Idukki hydropower project is advancing, Kerala Power Minister K. Krishnankutty informed the State Assembly.

The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) has engaged WAPCOS—a central government entity under the Ministry of Water Resources—to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and obtain the necessary approvals. Out of the 14 mandatory clearances, only two have been secured so far.

The proposed 800 MW Idukki extension is expected to generate approximately 1,170 million units of electricity annually, significantly boosting Kerala’s renewable energy capacity.

However, regulatory challenges persist. Central guidelines and a 2015 National Green Tribunal (NGT) ruling mandate year-round environmental flow (e-flow) in rivers, which KSEB claims is not feasible to maintain from the Idukki Dam to the Periyar River. The State and Central governments are jointly pursuing an exemption from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Additionally, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and Central Water Commission (CWC) have instructed WAPCOS to undertake further technical studies, including:

Impact assessment on nearby aging structures, Feasibility of tunnel construction in the Thodupuzha River, Subsurface strength testing, Seismic intensity analysis

These studies are currently in progress, the Minister confirmed.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.