Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project Authority (PHPA-I) is an autonomous body set up for implementation of the 1,200MW Punatsangchhu-I Hydroelectric Project (PHEP-I), the mutually beneficial Indo-Bhutan Friendship Project. The project’s implementation started on November 11, 2008. Originating at an altitude of ±7,000 masl in Gasa Dzongkhag (District) of Bhutan and fed by snow/glacial lakes from the Great Himalayan Range, the rivers Phochhu and Mochhu join at an altitude of ± 1212.2m masl at the iconic Punakha Dzong (Fortress) to form the Punatsangchhu river which then flows southerly to enter the Indian plains as Sankosh. This run-of-the-river Project located by the  7-21 km stretch of Wangdue-Tsirang National Highway in Wangduephodrang Dzongkhag in Western Bhutan is the first project under the 10,000MW Hydropower Development Initiative undertaken by the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGoB) and the Government of India (GoI). Designed to generate 5,670 million units of electricity in an average year, the Project utilizes 357 m of head available in about 11 km length of Punatsangchhu river. The Dam site is about 7 km downstream of Wangdue Bridge and all other project components are located on the left bank of the river between 7 km and 21 km downstream of the  Wangdue Bridge