Power Play on the Chenab: India Fast-Tracks Major Hydro Projects

India has fast-tracked four major hydropower projects on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, underscoring both its energy security priorities and strategic interests.

Authorities have been instructed to commission the Pakal Dul and Kiru projects by December 2026, complete the Kwar project by March 2028, and expedite construction of the Ratle hydropower dam. Pakal Dul, India’s first storage-based project on a western river flowing into Pakistan, will have a generation capacity of 1,000 MW and a dam height of 167 metres, enabling regulation of river flows. The Kiru and Kwar projects, designed as run-of-the-river schemes, along with the Ratle project—an 850 MW facility featuring a 133-metre-high dam—form a strategic cascade that enhances India’s operational control over Chenab waters.

The accelerated push follows inspections by Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who stressed adherence to strict timelines. Together with the proposed Dulhasti Stage-II project, these developments are expected to significantly boost electricity generation capacity in the region.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.