Bhubaneswar: Odisha took a decisive step toward expanding its clean energy infrastructure today as the Energy Department, Government of Odisha, and GRIDCO Limited, alongside knowledge partner iFOREST, hosted a high-level Stakeholder Dialogue at the Mayfair Convention Hall.
Inaugurating the session, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo highlighted that small hydro projects offer significant environmental and developmental advantages by utilizing existing irrigation canals and water flows without requiring extensive land acquisition.
Additional Chief Secretary, Energy and E&IT, Shri Vishal Dev emphasized that the state is actively building the regulatory, financial, and departmental ecosystem necessary to convert raw potential into bankable projects. The event concluded with the signing of a landmark Renewable Energy banking agreement, setting the stage for an official action roadmap focused on priority site selection, streamlined clearances, and community benefit-sharing.
Principal Secretary, FE&CC and CMD OPTCL Shri Bhaskar Jyoti Sarma, GRIDCO Managing Director Dr. Satya Priya Rath, Director Program Development, iFOREST, Mandvi Singh and other dignitaries attended dialogue.
The event brought together policymakers, project developers, financiers, and sector experts to fast-track the implementation of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy’s (MNRE) Small Hydro Power Development Scheme (2026–27 to 2030–31). With India tapping only 5,171 MW of its estimated 21,133 MW small hydro potential, the dialogue focused on turning policy guidelines into a concrete, investment-ready pipeline for Odisha.
The newly launched ₹2,584.60-crore national scheme targets 1,500 MW of new small hydro capacity across roughly 200 projects, supported by ₹30 crore in Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation funding. Odisha, which holds nearly 11% of India’s surface water resources, aims to leverage this central support to diversify its thermal-heavy generation portfolio.
To enable smooth grid integration, the State Government has planned an investment of approximately ₹16,000 crore, which has recently got approval by State Cabinet to expand transmission infrastructure across the state, introducing three new 765 kV networks.