Context
The Machkund Hydroelectric Project, a major inter-state hydropower project situated on the Odisha–Andhra Pradesh border, recently witnessed a major fire incident.
About Machkund Hydroelectric Project
- Machkund Hydroelectric Project is a 120 MW inter-state hydropower project jointly operated by Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.
- It is located in Odisha’s Koraput district on the Machkund River, a tributary of the Godavari river system, near Duduma Falls in the Eastern Ghats.
- The Jalaput Dam and reservoir provide water for power generation at the plant.
- The project was conceived in the 1920s by Maharaja Vikram Dev Varma of Jeypore to electrify nearby villages.
- Construction began in 1948, and the hydropower plant became operational in 1955.
- It was inaugurated by Dr. Rajendra Prasad.
- Initially, electricity generated from the project was shared between Andhra Pradesh and Odisha in a 70:30 ratio.
- Later, the arrangement was revised to ensure equal 50:50 power sharing between the two states.
