Bhopal | September 7, 2026 | INFRAINTEL Bureau
(The Economic Times)
Innovator Anand Badkul has proposed a 250 MW underground hydroelectric project in Bhopal using the elevation difference between the Upper and Lower Lakes, with pumped recirculation and a flood-diversion function.
The promotional proposal describes underground canals feeding a high-pressure tunnel and turbine, after which water would ordinarily be pumped back to the lake. It recommends Dilip Buildcon for civil works and BHEL Bhopal for turbine, switchyard and electrical systems, but the named companies were presented only as proposed partners.
Badkul also outlined separate concepts for solar expansion in Indore, ground-mounted wind generation in Jabalpur and human-powered electricity in Jabalpur and Gwalior, alongside employment and tariff claims. Municipal green bonds were suggested as a financing route.
The material cites a patent application and copyright registration, neither of which demonstrates engineering feasibility, safety or economic viability. No independent study, hydrology data, energy balance, capital estimate, environmental assessment or confirmation from the proposed partners was supplied.
Because closed-loop pumping consumes energy and cannot create net power without an external source and elevation cycle, the 250 MW output claim requires rigorous third-party validation. Any public consideration should begin with conservation-of-energy analysis, lake ecology, water balance, geological risk, flood modelling, land and heritage impacts, safety, financing and verified stakeholder consent.