The Khandong dam impounds Kopili river and Umrong dam impounds Umrong river creating Kopili reservoir and umrong reservoir. Kopili reservoir partially falls in Meghalaya state as Kopili river forms geographical boundary between Assam and Meghalaya in this region. Water from Kopili reservoir is fed to Khandong power station, releasing water into Umrong reservoir. Water from Umrong reservoir is diverted via tunnels to Kopili power station on the bank of Kopili river. Tail race waters of Kopili power house are released back into the Kopili river. Although this project is not classified as such, its design is very similar to run-of-the-river power projects.
Power plants
Khandong I & II
The Khandong power house stage-I and stage-II are located between two reservoirs, near Umrong reservoir, in geographical location and Khandong dam is located at. Khandong Stage-I powerhouse has 2x25 MW Francis type turbines, generating 50 MW power at peak. It is connected to Kopili reservoir via 4.5 m diameter, 2852 m long concrete-lined head race tunnel. First and second units of stage-I were commissioned on 8 March and 3 May 1984 respectively. Khandong stage II powerhouse is located close to stage-I power station. It has 1x25 MW turbine, connected via 480-m-long water conductor system, which was provisioned for at the time of stage-I construction. Third turbine was commissioned on 26 July 2004.
Kopili I & II
The Kopili power house stage-I and stage-II are located on the right bank of Kopili river in geographical location. The related Umrong dam, completed in 1988, is located at. Khandong Stage-I and II powerhouse is installed with 4x50 MW Francis type turbines, generating 200 MW power at peak. It is connected to Umrong reservoir via 4.6 m diameter, 5.5-km-long concrete-lined head race tunnel. The first unit of stage-I was commissioned on 4 July 1988.
Lower Kopili HEP
Because of contamination of Kopili river waters, the prospect of Lower Kopili Hydro Electric Project downstream of Kopili powerhouse has met with hurdles for environmental clearances and financial funding of the project.The 120 power project will be funded by the Asian Development Bank.
Environment issue
This hydroelectric project has suffered some serious damage due to contamination of Kopili river with acid mine discharge from open castcoal mines and rat hole mining in Meghalaya.
Incident
The Hydro project site was submerged and flooded following pipeline burst on 7 October 2019. 4 people has since been reported missing in the overflowing project site. The brust happened on old pipe, which was repaired the previous year.
