Centre fast tracks hydropower in J&K; Ratle project to be ready by 2028-end, Dulhasti clears green hurdle

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• India fast-tracks hydropower projects in J&K, focusing on Indus river system
• Ratle project to start by Nov 2028; Dulhasti Stage-II approved by Centre's environment panel
• Over 10 GW hydropower capacity planned across Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers

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The government has stepped up efforts to fast-track hydropower development in Jammu and Kashmir, with power minister Manohar Lal Khattar reviewing projects on the Indus river system, officials told Moneycontrol.

The review targets generation at the Salal Hydroelectric Project, fast-tracking under-construction projects such as Ratle and getting the recently cleared Dulhasti Stage-II Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab river off the ground.

Khattar, who is in Jammu and Kashmir for assessing key hydropower projects, has directed officials to expedite desilting work at the Salal project to restore lost generation capacity, officials said.

Sediment accumulated over the years has reduced output and desilting is expected to improve utilisation of the existing infrastructure.

The renewed hydropower push comes after India decided to keep the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan in abeyance in the aftermath of the Phalagam terror attack, bringing the focus back to the Indus river system.

The suspension has allowed India to carry out work on hydropower projects on the western rivers without the requirement intimate to Pakistan beforehand, which earlier slowed the project.

Under the treaty, India, as the upper riparian state, was required to keep Pakistan informed about project operations and river flows.

Pakistan has, in the past, objected to activities such as desilting of reservoirs on these rivers, constraining maintenance and optimisation of generation, officials said.

Ratle, Dulhasti Stage-II projects to be fast-tracked

Officials said the Ratle hydropower project in Kishtwar district is now targeted for commissioning by November 2028, with construction activity being reviewed to ensure adherence to revised timelines.

The project is among the largest in the work on the Chenab river and is expected to add firm, dispatchable renewable power to the northern grid.

The Centre’s environment appraisal committee granted environmental clearance to the 260-MW Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project. The run-of-the-river scheme, proposed downstream of the existing Dulhasti plant in Kishtwar district, will now move to the next stage of pre-construction activities following the clearance.

Over 10 GW push  

Officials said the latest review also reflects the government’s broader push to unlock hydropower potential across the Indus basin.

As reported by Moneycontrol, the ministry is working towards commissioning major projects such as Pakal Dul (1,000 MW) and Kiru (624 MW), while several others are at different stages of construction, clearance or planning.

Taken together, government and industry estimates suggest that at least a dozen major hydropower projects, totalling well over 10 GW of capacity, are planned, under construction or operational across the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers. These include Pakal Dul, Kiru, Kwar, Ratle, Bursar, Sawalkot, Kirthai-I and II, and Dulhasti Stage-II.

Hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir have historically faced delays due to environmental clearances, difficult terrain and Indus treaty-related constraints. With several bottlenecks easing and timelines firming up, officials said the Centre is now looking to accelerate execution and maximise generation from the strategically important river system.

The renewed focus on hydropower is also critical to India’s target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, with large hydro playing a key role in providing firm, dispatchable renewable power to support the rapid expansion of solar and wind capacity, officials said.