To increase production of green electricity in the state, the Odisha government today decided to renovate three major hydro-power stations with an investment of about Rs 887 crore.

A decision to this effect was taken at a high level review meeting presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today.

The hydel-power stations at Hirakud, Chipilima and Balimela would be renovated in phases, Energy Secretary S C Mohapatra said.

The state has six hydro-power stations with installed capacity of 2,008 MW. However, total hydel power generation was 535.0507 MW on Monday.

Stating that Hirakud power station was set up way back in 1961, Mohapatra said the government would renovate two of its units (37.5 X 2) by investing Rs 158 crore.

The capacity of Hirakud station would increase from 75 MW to 86 MW after renovation, he said, adding that orders for the renovation have been issued and it would require about 30 months to complete the work.

The 34-MW power station at Chipilima, set up in 1964, will be renovated at an estimated amount of Rs 65.67 crore and the work would complete in 20 months, Mohapatra said.

The Balimela Hydel Project, which has an installed capacity of 510 MW, would be renovated at an investment of Rs 664 crore. The project could generate just 77.4167 MW power on Monday.

About 54 months will be required to complete its renovation, he said.

The state also got 37.3330 MW power from Machkund hydel project, jointly developed by the governments of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The state was unable to utilise about two-thirds of its hydro-power capacity, OHPC officials said.

The hydel power station at Indravati, which has an installed capacity of 600 MW, generated 248.4170 MW of electricity on Monday.

The state's six hydro power units were located at Hirakud (two stations), Rengali, Indravati, Upper Kolab and Balimela. The hydel project at Machkund in Koraput district was jointly owned by Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.