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Hydropower was first started in India at Shivsamundram on river Kaveri in Karnataka during the year 1902. Hydropower generation requires geographical conditions of sufficient water and sloppy areas but hydro power occupies second place after thermal power in the world. In India, rivers play an important role in power generation.
From the geographical angle, role of rivers in power generation can be understood from the following description:
1. In peninsular India, rivers falling in Bay of Bengal generate 21 per cent hydropower.
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2. Rivers falling in the western region of peninsular India produce 10.5 per cent hydropower.
3. Rivers of central India generate 10.5 per cent hydropower.
4. Ganga river system generates 11.5 per cent hydropower.
5. Brahmaputra river system generates 32 per cent hydropower.
6. Indus river system generates about 15 per cent hydropower.
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About one-third hydropower generation in the country is from Brahmaputra river system. Since 1951, there has been special increase in hydropower generation. Hydropower capacity in 1951 was only 60 megawatt, which has increased to 29,500 megawatt in 2005.
About 27 per cent power in the country is generated through water. From the point of view of generation, hydropower generation was only 2.5 billion kilowatt in 1951, which has increased to 73.79 billion kilowatt in 2004-05. Many states of India like Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Gujarat, Jammu-Kashmir, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh are important from the point of view of hydropower generation. Hydropower generation started in India at Darjeeling in 1897.
Only a little part of the potential capacity of power generation has been exploited in India. More emphasis has been laid on power generation in India only after 1951. In 1974, 42 per cent share was of hydropower. But later on, the share of hydropower went on decreasing due to greater emphasis on thermal power.
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Many multipurpose projects have been executed in India. Tungabhadra, Bhadra, Shiv Samundram (Karnataka), Iddiki (Kerala), Tata, Koyna (Maharashtra), Manchkud, Nagarjun Sagar, Shailam (Andhra Pradesh), Paikara, Mettur (Tamil Nadu), Bhakra Nangal (Punjab), Sharda, Riband (Tihri-Uttar Pradesh), Uttaranchal, Damodar Valley Project (West Bengal) and Hirakud (Orissa) are among the important hydro electric power projects.