Depending on the availability of funds, these mega hydro projects will be taken up by NHPC either on its own or as a joint venture with the private sector. Most of these projects identified by CEA are subjected to the approval from the state government. Official sources told The Financial Express that in a recent meeting chaired by the power minister, P R Kumaramangalam for reviewing the progress of various hydel projects, that the CEA and NHPC were asked to identify large capacity projects which will improve the existing ratio between the thermal and hydel power stations.

Sources said that a significant feature of these projects is that they arelocated in the vicinity of the projects already being developed by the NHPC. This, sources said, was done in order to optimise the costof the new projects as then NHPC can make use of the infrastructure already available with it for the new schemes.

Sources said that a presentation on these new hydro capacity addition plan for the next 15 years was made by NHPC before the power ministry officials on September, 23. The new projects identified by the government for the 10th Plan period includes the 450 MW Kadwan power project in Bihar and the 520 MW Demwe power project in Arunachal Pradesh.