A panel under the Environment Ministry has approved the 260 MW Dulhasti Stage-II hydroelectric project on the Chenab River in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir

A panel under the Environment Ministry has approved the 260 MW Dulhasti Stage-II hydroelectric project on the Chenab River in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. The Expert Appraisal Committee on Hydroelectric Projects under the Union Environment Ministry, during its 45th meeting, granted environmental clearance to the 260 MW (2*130 MW) Dulhasti Stage-II hydroelectric project. The project will be developed by NHPC Limited at an estimated cost of approximately ₹3,277 crore. With this approval, the government can now initiate the process of inviting construction tenders for the project. The project parameters have been designed in accordance with the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960, pertaining to the Chenab basin. The central government is fast-tracking several hydroelectric projects in the Indus basin, including the Ratle, Sawalkot, Bursar, Pakal Dul, Kwar, Kiru, and Kirthai projects.

Overview of the Dulhasti Stage-II Hydroelectric Project

¨     Dulhasti Stage-II is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric project with an installed capacity of 260 MW (2*130 MW).

¨     It is an extension of the existing 390 MW Dulhasti Stage-I hydroelectric project.

¨     Dulhasti Stage-I was commissioned in 2007 and is successfully operating under NHPC Limited.

¨     Stage-II will utilize the existing dam, reservoir, and power intake infrastructure of Stage-I.

¨     Water for Stage-II will be diverted through a separate tunnel approximately 3.7 kilometers long for water storage. • Under this project, a surge shaft, a pressure shaft, and an underground powerhouse will be constructed.

¨     Water for this project will be obtained from the Marusudar River through the ‘Pakal Dul’ project linkage.

¨     The Chenab basin already has operational projects such as Dulhasti-I, Baglihar, and Salal.

¨     Additional projects are under construction on the Chenab River, making this basin a major hydropower hub.

¨     Dulhasti Phase-II is expected to increase regional power supply and support India's strategic and energy security objectives in the Indus Basin.

Significance of the Project

¨     Affirmation of Water Sovereignty: By accelerating construction amidst the uncertainty surrounding the treaty, India is clearly signaling its strategy of moving towards the optimal utilization of its Himalayan rivers. This is a deliberate move to use water rights as a strategic advantage in regional security and diplomacy.

¨     Optimal Utilization of Infrastructure: This project is highly cost-effective as it will utilize the existing dam and reservoir of Dulhasti Phase-I. This “brownfield” approach will significantly increase power generation capacity (from 390 MW to a total of 650 MW) with relatively less environmental impact.

¨     Energy Security for Jammu and Kashmir: This project is a crucial part of India's plan to make the region a hydropower hub. It aims to address the chronic power shortage and boost local industrial development through a reliable supply of renewable energy.

¨     Strategic Quick-Response: This approval by the Expert Appraisal Committee, coming immediately after the 1,856 MW Sawalkot project, is part of an effort to establish ‘facts on the ground’. This strong physical presence on the Chenab River will solidify India's position in future treaty negotiations to an almost irreversible extent.