MUMBAI: It took more than five years of hard work and manpower of 14,500 to set up the Karcham Wangtoo Hydel Power Project – the largest hydropower station ever to be constructed by a private firm in India, is all set to be rolling.

The team battled the rugged terrains of the mighty Himalayas and created a monumental project that costed approximately $1.5 billion and stands on the river Sutlej in Himachal Pradesh. The 1,000MW hydropower project is believed to be the key to unlock India’s energy potential, the fifth largest power market in the world.

Surrounded by jagged peaks, prone to sub-zero winters and accessible only by steep mountain roads, the story of the state-of-the-art hydropower project, would be premiered on 21 December 2013 at 6 pm on National Geographic Channel on A Himalayan Megastructure.

The Himalayas stand as a fortress to India’s northern frontiers, but flowing through its valleys, in Himachal Pradesh, was the key to unlocking India’s energy potential – the river Sutlej. These waters are vital to driving the fifth largest power market in the world, and it is right here that an audacious new chapter in India’s power history has been written. Challenging all that was known and conceivable, the visionaries at Jaypee Group saw their dream through to its completion. In the ultimate joint venture between man, machine and nature, the Karcham Wangtoo Hydel Power Project saw the light of day.

Jaypee Group executive chairman Manoj Gaur said, “We no longer live in a world that can be defined or limited by the parameters of what is ‘achievable’. And the power crisis is all-pervasive and as acute as it has ever been. Was the Karcham Wangtoo project challenging? In every possible way! But was it also the kind of stuff that makes you wake up every single morning and feel inspired? A big, resounding yes. And that, for us, was what made our entire team dedicatedly work on the project day in and day out. We are thrilled that National Geographic Description: A Himalayan Megastructure_2was able to come on board with us and do complete justice to this vision of ours.”

Talking about the association, National Geographic and FOX International Channels VP, marketing Debarpita Banerjee, said, “Nat Geo endeavors to bring the new and the varied to its viewers so as to unlock their minds to the big wide world. This project has been another such association. It’s been a privilege for us to have been a part of the Description: A Himalayan Megastructure_3Karcham Wangtoo Hydel Power Project journey and create a platform for alternate thinkers & conservationists alike, to showcase their groundbreaking work!”

Witness the story of a team that dared to dream different and push the boundaries of all that is tried and tested.