The Pump Storage Project Underway in Khimla, Neemuch Promises Significant Benefits for the Region

The Greenko Group’s 1920 MW pump storage project in Khimla village, Neemuch district, is set to be a major boon for Neemuch, Mandsaur and the surrounding areas. With an estimated cost of Rs 11,470 crore, the project is progressing rapidly. The foundation stone was laid on October 4, 2023, and CM Dr. Mohan Yadav has hailed it as a significant achievement for Madhya Pradesh. This project is the largest of its kind in the country.

This project will not only meet the electricity requirement of the area, but will also provide employment to a large number of people. The Gandhi Sagar Pump Storage Project (PSP) has a storage capacity of 1920 mega watt / 10326 mega watt per hour. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 11 thousand 470 crore. The project consists of two reservoirs namely Gandhi Sagar Lower Reservoir (already existing) and Upper Reservoir which is under construction. The scheme envisages non-consumptive reuse of 1.24 TMC water of Gandhi Sagar Reservoir by recirculation. Water from Gandhi Sagar Reservoir (existing lower reservoir) will be pumped and stored in the upper reservoir of the proposed Pumped Storage Project and used for power generation.

The total storage capacity of Gandhi Sagar Reservoir is 270.321 TMC. The geographical coordinates of the upper reservoir component of the proposed Pumped Storage Project are Latitude 24° 31′ 6.89″ North and Longitude 75° 30′ 56.12″ East and the geographical coordinates of Gandhi Sagar Lower Reservoir (existing) are 24° 31′ 5.40″ North and 75° 32′ 5.28″ East. The proposed PSP has a rated power of 1920 mega watt. This line will be connected to 400/220 KV PGCIL substation at Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh state for evacuation of power generated and for supply of power during pumping mode.

The total land required for construction of various components including land required for infrastructure items like road, employment facilities, debris disposal area etc. is estimated to be about 402.50 hectares. The project is proposed to be constructed within a period of 3.5 years including infrastructure development. The flood discharge of the existing Gandhi Sagar reservoir is 2138 cumecs. The gross storage capacity of Gandhi Sagar reservoir is 270.321 TMC. The operation pattern of the PSP is such that 1.24 TMC water will be used for the proposed PSP and one time filling of about 2.39 TMC (or 67.66 million cumecs) in the proposed upper reservoir will be drawn from Gandhi Sagar reservoir.

This project is a pump storage scheme, so there is no expenditure of water for its operation except a small amount of loss due to evaporation. The pump storage project is proposed with an energy storage capacity of 10326 mega watt per hour, whose power rating is 1920 mega watt. This project includes 7 units of 240 mega watt and 2 bi-directional turbine units of 120 mega watt.

The Khimla power plant, under construction in the remote Aravali hills of Rampura tehsil in Neemuch district, is creating substantial employment opportunities in the region, with over 3,000 people employed daily. Greenko Company, in collaboration with the local administration and community, is executing this crucial national project with transparency. This forward-looking initiative, with an investment of nearly Rs 12,000 crore, will bring a significant boost to Madhya Pradesh’s energy sector. Remarkably, less than 5 percent of the water drawn from the Gandhi Sagar reservoir will be lost during the process. Land from the Forest and Revenue Departments has been acquired for the project, where a pond-like tank will be created to pump water from the Gandhi Sagar reservoir, which will then be returned after generating electricity through pump storage. This project is poised to offer substantial benefits to the villagers in the Rampura area of Manasa Janpad.

The work of this pump storage project, the largest of its kind in the country, is going on at a fast pace, which is seen realising the dream of self-reliant India of the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, by producing 1920 MW of electricity.