Uttarakhand tech varsity signs MoU for India's first hydropower engg institute

THDC India Ltd and Uttarakhand Technical University (UTU) have signed an MoU to run India’s first hydropower engineering institute which is coming up in Tehri district of the hill state.

The MoU was signed by D V Singh, director (Technical) THDCIL and D S Chauhan, vice-chancellor UTU, a THDC spokesman said. The first batch is expected to join the new institute in August-September, Singh said.

The capital cost which is around Rs 50 crore for setting up the institute including all initial infrastructure, furniture, lab equipment and library etc, would be borne by THDCIL. The institute will be run by UTU in self financing mode.

Keeping in mind the growth of the hydropower sector, it was agreed by the Union Ministry of Power that THDCIL will meet the initial capital cost towards establishing a technical institute to impart education in various disciplines of engineering with a focus on hydropower.

The objective behind setting up of the Institute is to create a pool of continuously upgraded skilled set of knowledge with special thrust on construction and operation of Hydro Power stations in Uttarakhand where there is an estimated hydropower potential of 20,000-25,000 Mw.

THDC Institute of Hydropower Engineering & Technology’ is spread in 20 acres of land with state of the art infrastructural facilities such as administrative, academic block, including library, laboratories, medical room, auditorium, staff residence, hostels, computer lab, canteen, etc.

In line with the commitment of THDCIL to the project affected population, five percent quota of intake every year shall be earmarked for admissions to the eligible candidates from families of the population affected due to the construction of Tehri/ Koteshwar dams. The eligibility of such candidates will be certified by District Magistrate/Director (Rehabilitation), Tehri.