Sawalkote Hydropower Project

Sawalkote Hydro Electric Project Latest News

The Centre recently recommended environmental clearance for the 1,856-MW Sawalkote Hydro Electric Project on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir.

About Sawalkote Hydro Electric Project

• It is a 1,856-MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric plant proposed on the Chenab River in the Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir. 
• It will be the largest hydroelectric project in the Union Territory and one of the biggest in North India.
• The project was first conceptualised in the 1980s and revised several times due to environmental and technical concerns.
• The project will be built by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Limited at an estimated cost of Rs 31,380 crore.
• It will include a 192.5-metre-high concrete dam and underground powerhouses capable of producing about 7,534 million units of electricity every year.
• It is expected to enhance power availability in the Union Territory, especially during winters when electricity shortages are frequent. 
• It also has the potential to turn J-K into a power-surplus region, creating scope for exporting surplus energy to the national grid.
• By regulating the flow of the Chenab River, the Sawalkote project could contribute to flood mitigation downstream, while also ensuring better water management for agriculture and domestic use.
• It is a key part of India’s plan to fully utilise its share of water from the western rivers under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

Source: DH

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