Four hydel projects over Chenab in J&K likely to be commissioned by 2028
The four ongoing hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir over the Chenab River and its tributaries are likely to be commissioned in 2027-28, officials privy to the details said on Friday, asserting that India has made steady progress in the works.
Chenab river is one of three Western rivers that fall under Indus Water Treaty,1960, which India suspended as part of punitive measures against Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. A total of 26 people, 25 tourists and a local, were killed in the attack at Baisaran meadow.
The projects--Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Kiru (624 MW), Kwar (540 MW) and Ratle (850 MW)--are being implemented through joint venture between NHPC and the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC). Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stones of Pakal Dul, Kiru and Kwar projects on May 19, 2018, February 3, 2019, and April 22, 2022, respectively.
'Pakal Dul project has made 66% progress, Kiru 55%, Kwar 19% and Ratle project is 21% complete,' said a senior official of the JKSPDC, requesting not to be named.
The official said that for the Kirthai project, 930 MW, a memorandum has been signed between JKSPDC and NHPC and clearances are under process. On Ratle project, he said that a coffer dam, a pre dam structure, was nearing completion. 'We expect it to be completed by November 2028,' he added. The official added that the work on Ratle project gained momentum only after 2023.
Pakistan had protested the Ratle and Kishenganga projects, alleging their designs violated the Indus Water Treaty. In June 2024, a five-member delegation from Pakistan and a World Bank-appointed neutral expert, Michel Lino, had inspected the Ratle power project at Drabshalla in Kishtwar.
These four projects are expected to generate over 10,541 million units (MU) of electricity annually.
J&K has an estimated hydropower potential of 18,000 MW, with 11,283 MW in the Chenab basin alone. However, only 23.81% (3,540 MW) of the total identified capacity has been harnessed to date, the officials said.
According to a government document, 15 hydel power projects aggregating 7,768 MW are at currently various stages, with six under construction, two at the award stage and seven at the detailed project report (DPR) clearance stage. Of the total 18,000 MW potential, 3,084 MW is in Jhelum basin and 500 MW in the Ravi basin.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
33 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Fixing Delhi's monsoon woes a work in progress with repeated delays in formulating a drainage master plan
Delhi, which is prone to waterlogging and flooding following spells of heavy rain, continues to miss deadlines for framing and executing a drainage master plan, according to official documents reviewed by The Hindu. Chief Secretary Dharmendra has flagged the delay in several meetings, and documents show that the drainage master plan is unlikely to be implemented ahead of the upcoming monsoon, which is less than a month away. According to the minutes of a meeting on March 17 with senior officials, including those from the Public Works Department (PWD), which was appointed the nodal agency in 2021 to develop the drainage plan, Mr. Dharmendra remarked that 'the pace of progress by the three PWD-appointed consultant agencies is not satisfactory. The Chief Secretary also expressed displeasure over the non-adherence to the timelines'. 50-year-old blueprint One of the main reasons for the waterlogging in the city is that it continues to operate on a drainage master plan created in 1976. The plan was designed for a population of 60 lakh and intended to handle only 50 mm of rainfall. However, Delhi's population has since increased fourfold. Moreover, there has been a surge in encroachments and concretisation over the past nearly 50 years, which has decreased the Capital's water absorption capacity and led to a spurt in the quantity of run-off water, causing floods and waterlogging. Push by the court In April 2024, the Delhi High Court criticised the Delhi government, then under the Aam Aadmi Party, for the delay in formulating a new drainage master plan, stating, 'The urgency for its implementation cannot be emphasised enough.' The court directed that detailed project reports (DPRs) for the master plan be finalised by September 15, 2024, administrative decisions taken by November 30, and implementation to begin on December 31. None of these deadlines were met. As of now, the DPRs by private consultants are expected to be finalised by the government on June 30, following which tenders will be floated. However, no deadline has been fixed for the execution, according to officials. A senior Delhi government official said that while the unclogging and desilting of drains have improved this year, compared to 2024, desilting alone will not solve the problem. Years of delay In 2011, the Delhi government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi to develop a drainage master plan. The team submitted its report in 2018, featuring a dynamic software model designed to incorporate data such as topography, soil type, and rainfall. However, in 2021, a technical committee rejected it, prompting the government to start the process afresh. Professor A.K. Gosain, who led the IIT-D team, said, 'The problem of waterlogging will happen at a particular point, but to solve it, the network of drains to that point has to be seen as a whole. That is why a drainage master plan is important, as it provides a comprehensive picture.'
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Srinagar's Jamia Masjid locked on Eid, Mirwaiz detained
SRINAGAR: Srinagar's historic Jamia Masjid was locked and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq placed under house arrest Saturday on Eid-ul-Adha, denying devotees the opportunity to offer prayers and provoking a backlash from many, including CM Omar Abdullah. Anjuman Auqaf Jamia Masjid Srinagar, which looks after the mosque management, said the gates were closed early Saturday morning and police deployed outside. Mirwaiz and Hurriyat Conference chairman Umar Farooq's family has traditionally led prayers at the mosque for generations. 'It is deeply regrettable that once again, people were not allowed to offer Eid prayers at the historic Jamia Masjid,' Omar said. He expressed helplessness, saying law and order in J&K Union territory fell under the purview of lieutenant governor (LG) Manoj Sinha's administration. 'I have no idea on what grounds such decisions are made,' the CM said. Omar urged the authorities to trust J&K's residents, saying 'these are the same people who, after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, came forward and unequivocally condemned it'. The CM called on 'the govt' to reconsider such actions in the future, alluding probably to the administration of the Centre-appointed LG. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq decried the mosque closure. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 임플란트 최대 할인 지원해드려요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo 'Yet again, Kashmir wakes up to the sad reality: no Eid prayers at Eidgah, and Jama Masjid locked down for 7th straight year. I, too, have been detained at my home. In a Muslim-majority region, Muslims are deprived of their fundamental right to pray even on their most important religious occasion celebrated across the world! What a shame on those who rule over us, and on those elected by the people who choose to remain silent as our rights are trampled over, again and again,' the Mirwaiz posted on X. J&K police and home department had not issued any statement on locking of the mosque and Mirwaiz's detention. PDP president and former CM Mehbooba Mufti joined the condemnation, accusing the Omar-led govt of being 'mere spectators'. 'J&K is the only Muslim-majority region in the country, and yet it is here that a major mosque is shut down on Eid, denying people their right to offer prayers. If govt claims everything is normal in J&K, why is the Mirwaiz not allowed to offer prayers,' Mehbooba said. Asked about the restrictions, BJP functionary and J&K Waqf Board chairperson Darkshan Andrabi declined comment. 'Jamia Masjid doesn't come under Waqf Board,' she said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
12k of SAIL's 16k tonnes of steel for tallest rail bridge supplied by Bhilai plant
Raipur: The Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has played a pivotal role in the construction of the world's tallest railway bridge over the Chenab River in Jammu & Kashmir, supplying a total of 16,000 tonnes of steel — with its Bhilai Steel Plant alone contributing 12,000 tonnes to the project. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A senior official from the Bhilai plant confirmed the figure on Friday, hailing it as a proud moment for the Indian steel industry and a major milestone in nation-building. The Chenab Railway Bridge, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 6, 2025, is now the highest railway arch bridge on the planet, rising 359 metres above the riverbed — even taller than the Eiffel Tower. The bridge is part of the strategically crucial Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link (USBRL) project and aims to bring seamless all-weather connectivity to Kashmir, significantly improving both civilian and military mobility. SAIL's contribution to the bridge included a wide range of steel products such as TMT bars, heavy plates, structural steel, and hot strip mill products. From the total volume supplied, the Bhilai Steel Plant alone provided 5,922 tonnes of TMT bars, 6,454 tonnes of steel plates, and 56 tonnes of structural steel. The remaining steel was delivered by SAIL's IISCO, Durgapur, Rourkela, and Bokaro plants. Officials said that the construction of this 1.3 kilometre long bridge involved the use of approximately 29,000 metric tonnes of fabricated steel, over 10 lakh cubic metres of earthwork, 66,000 cubic metres of concrete, and a vast network of 84 kilometres of cable anchors and rock bolts. Engineered to endure wind speeds of up to 266 kmph and strong earthquakes, the bridge is being seen not just as an engineering feat, but a strategic lifeline to India's northern frontier. SAIL's Bhilai Steel Plant, known for producing high-grade TMT bars with earthquake- and corrosion-resistant properties, has been a consistent contributor to key national infrastructure. Its steel has previously been used in iconic structures like the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, Atal Setu, Sela and Atal Tunnels, and even in defence applications including warships like INS Vikrant. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now According to the Bhilai plant official, the bridge is yet another example of how SAIL's quality steel is powering India's most ambitious projects. "From high-altitude tunnels to bullet trains and now the world's tallest railway bridge, SAIL steel — especially from Bhilai — is proving essential to India's infrastructure push," the official said.
