Upper Bhavani Hydropower Project in Western Ghats

In May 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) granted preliminary approval for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study of the 1,000 MW Upper Bhavani pumped hydropower project in Tamil Nadu’s Nilgiri Hills, a part of the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats.

Key Points:

Project Developer: NTPC Tamil Nadu Energy Company Limited, a joint venture of NTPC and TANGEDCO, will build the pumped storage project using the Upper Bhavani Dam and Avalanche-Emerald reservoirs.
Land Use: The project will require 167.85 hectares, including 56.35 hectares of forest land, and lies just 1 km from Mukurthi National Park—home to the endangered Nilgiri Tahr.
Terms of Reference (ToR): The granted ToR outlines the EIA study's scope, including a public hearing and site inspection before final clearance.
Environmental Sensitivity: The EAC had earlier expressed concern over the region’s fragile biodiversity, advising comprehensive assessments and consideration of alternative sites.
Revised Layout: Developers proposed an underground layout to minimize ecological damage, avoid Shola forests, and reduce resettlement issues.
Renewable Push: The project is part of India’s clean energy goals, as pumped hydropower helps balance power supply by storing and releasing energy using elevation differences.
Wider Context: The EAC noted 15 similar projects in the Western Ghats and stressed the importance of site-specific evaluations before further approvals.