(THE GIST OF PIB) Sillahalla Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project

(APRIL-2025)

Sillahalla Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project

In April 2025, opposition to the Sillahalla Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project in the Nilgiris intensified, with local farmers, tribal groups, and environmentalists staging protests and submitting petitions to the Tamil Nadu government.

About Sillahalla Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project

The Sillahalla Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project (SPSHEP) is a major infrastructure initiative proposed by the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) to address the state’s peak power demand and support renewable energy integration.
Location: Nilgiris district, Tamil Nadu, within the Kundah region, adjacent to the Silent Valley and Mukurthi National Parks.
Aim: To generate 1,000 MW electricity to meet peak power demand.

Project Features:

Construction of two dams (upper and lower reservoirs).
Tunnels of 2.8 km (head race) and 1.56 km (tail race).
Underground powerhouse and surface storage points.
Environmental Concerns: The potential submergence of around 1,000 acres of farmland and 500 acres of forest land would affect approximately 3,000 farmers.
Issue of Joint Pattas: Many affected lands are under joint patta, and farmers will not be able to get the compensation accordingly. Moreover, people who have given their land for road projects are yet to receive compensation in the district.
Public Response: Local communities have raised concerns over environmental impacts and loss of livelihoods.