The  Union government  has  approved various measures to promote hydropower sector. India is blessed with huge water resources and there are vast possibilities of producing hydro-electricity but only 23% of the total installed capacity. While hydropower projects are critical for economic growth and development, it is equally important to fully assess its potential social and environmental impact in the long-term. The challenge lies in finding the right balance between the need for rapid development and the necessity of protecting the environment. According to an assessment by the Central Electricity Authority, the economically exploitable hydropower potential in India is around 148 GW. As of 2016-17, the installed utilizable hydropower capacity in India is around 45 GW or about 14 % of its total installed power capacity. As of now, around 31 % of its total utilizable hydropower capacity has been installed.