Sabarigiri storage falls to 61% as Keralam turns to NTPC for long-term power supply

14 October 2026

The water level of the Sabarigiri Hydroelectric Project has dropped to 61 per cent, with the Thulam rains bringing no substantial inflow for a week.
The Pampa dam stands at 970.75 metres against a full capacity of 986.332 metres, and the Kakki-Anathode dam at 970.425 metres against 981.450 metres. Total inflow into the reservoirs was 2.616 million cubic metres.
Generation is being confined largely to peak load hours, with only one or two generators running at very low loads during the day; the downstream Kakakad project, which runs on water released from Sabarigiri, is also operating at reduced load.
In talks with NTPC in New Delhi, the State sought up to 300 MW from NTPC's Sinnar project in Maharashtra at Rs 5.18 per unit and faster completion of a 27 MW NTPC solar project at Kayamkulam.
A memorandum of understanding is expected between KSEB, NTPC and NTPC Green Energy Ltd for a proposed 2,000 MWh Battery Energy Storage System at Kayamkulam, with two 80 MWh units at Pothencode and Sreekandapuram expected by March 2027.