Rayagada: Since 2005, the Central Government has initiated surveys for constructing 90 hydroelectric projects in the Nagavali river basin, located along the Andhra Pradesh–Odisha border. The Nagavali river, which flows through dense forests and hilly terrain, has immense potential for hydroelectric projects at multiple locations. Of these, five proposed sites were in Odisha’s Rayagada district and five in Andhra Pradesh’s part of the basin.
However, sources reveal that Rayagada’s Hathi Pathar and Totapalli in Manyam district have been excluded from the list based on geographical parameters. Following heavy rainfall and floods in July 2006, landslides altered the geographic landscape of the river, especially shifting its course significantly over a 550-meter stretch due to massive erosion. Consequently, the rocky terrain of Hathi Pathar—composed of khondalite granite and located at the base of hills—was deemed unsuitable for project construction by the concerned department.
Similarly, in Andhra’s Totapalli, flooding in 2010, 2011, and 2017 increased the local reservoir’s capacity from 2.1 sq. km to 9.16 sq. km. This caused the river’s upstream water to merge with the reservoir, expanding the river’s width. Due to lack of proper headwater storage and unsuitable foundation conditions, experts flagged the site as risky for future hydro projects.
According to sources, proposed power generation capacities in the Rayagada district sites include:
Upper Nagavali: 3,000 kilowatts
Lower Nagavali: 1,200 kilowatts
Bhitara Jhola: 7,000 kilowatts
Gruha Languli (Nagavali tributary): 2,500 kilowatts
In Andhra Pradesh, proposals include hydro projects in Naguru village of Gagubali mandal and Karnavel village in the river basin. Although there is no specific hydroelectric project mentioned in Revatiguda, a proposal exists to construct a river dam in that area, as confirmed by Duryodhan Jani, Executive Engineer of the Nagavali Division.