New Delhi: Shri Santosh Kumar Sarangi, Secretary of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) and Ministry of Power, addressed the Curtain Raiser Programme for a dedicated Small Hydro Power session at the Bharat Renewable Energy Summit and Expo 2026 today in New Delhi.
Highlighting the distinctive role of Small Hydro Power in India’s clean energy transition, the Secretary extended an invitation to industry stakeholders to participate in large numbers in the upcoming summit.
During his address, the Secretary MNRE identified the long lead time required to initiate hydropower projects as a primary operational hurdle. He noted that extended timelines for securing forest, environmental, and right-of-way clearances continue to hinder timely execution. Although the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has assured the MNRE of expedited clearances for small hydropower initiatives, Shri Sarangi emphasized the necessity of creating an automated mechanism to generate and escalate alerts whenever procedural delays occur.
Addressing the financial structure of the sector, Shri Sarangi stressed the importance of improving the bankability of small hydropower projects. He pointed out that their unique cash-flow profiles require access to long-term patient capital. To address this financial gap, he urged the Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) to lead efforts in coordinating with commercial banks and multilateral development institutions, such as the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank, to increase capital availability for developers.
Closing his address, Secretary MNRE Shri Sarangi encouraged industry representatives, researchers, and sector officials present at the event to submit actionable ideas and experiences to help formulate stronger policies for promoting small hydropower across the country.