Powering the Nilgiris: The 1,000 MW Upper Bhavani Milestone

The proposed 1,000 MW Upper Bhavani Pumped Storage Project in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiris district has reached a key regulatory stage, with project authorities selecting one alignment from three alternatives.

Developed by NTPC Tamil Nadu Energy Company (NTECL), the project has now applied for forest clearance to divert 56.35 hectares of forest land. After detailed technical and environmental assessments, Alternative 2 was chosen as it provides the best balance of engineering feasibility, cost efficiency, and ecological impact. This alignment requires the least forest diversion, avoids sensitive shola forests, reduces geological and seepage risks, and minimizes muck generation and construction complexity through a shorter water conductor system. All proposed options make use of existing reservoirs, avoiding new submergence.

Following the alignment selection, NTECL submitted a forest diversion proposal to Tamil Nadu’s Project Screening Committee, which reviewed land requirements and requested clarifications on mapping, geo-referencing, and compensatory afforestation. As the nearest project component lies just 987.79 metres from Mukurthi National Park, the project also falls under wildlife clearance scrutiny. NTECL has applied to the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife and has secured Terms of Reference from the Union Environment Ministry to conduct an environmental impact assessment.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.