India Fast-tracks J&K Dam Work: Why Pakal Dul Will Put Pakistan In Troubled Waters
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Pakistan has been objecting to the Pakal Dul project, calling it a violation of the Indus Waters Treaty as the dam will come up on one of the tributaries of the Chenab in Kishtwar
The Narendra Modi government on Tuesday granted permission for laying of overhead transmission lines for the crucial Pakal Dul hydropower project in Jammu and Kashmir.
The 1000-MW Pakal Dul Hydro Electric project is the biggest and most crucial in the region, as it will be the first storage project on the western rivers that flow to Pakistan and will have the capacity to hold water.
An official notification granting permission to the Chenab Valley Power Projects Ltd to lay transmission lines for the Pakal Dul project was issued on Tuesday.
The process for the same had been going on since early 2024 and the permission coming through now shows the urgency with which the government is fast-tracking this project which could be ready by 2026.
Pakal Dul will be the highest dam in India at 167 meters. Pakistan has been objecting to the project, calling it a violation of the Indus Valley Treaty as the dam will come up on one of the tributaries of the Chenab river in Kishtwar, J&K. But with a pause on the Indus Water Treaty, India is fast-tracking the project and Tuesday's decision is a big step in this regard, top officials said.
This project is a storage scheme and can utilise the permissible storage of 0.1 MAF under the Indus Waters Treaty.
जम्मू कश्मीर की जल धारा आने वाले समय में यहां कि विकास धारा को गति देने वाली है। एक हाइड्रो पावर प्रोजेक्ट राष्ट्र को समर्पित करना तो दूसरे का शिलान्यास करना, आज का ये दिन अद्भुत और यादगार दिन बन गया: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 19, 2018
WHY IS PAKAL DUL IMPORTANT?
All existing hydropower projects of India on the western rivers that flow to Pakistan are 'run-of-the-river' projects with minimal storage capacity. Pakal Dul will be India's first storage project on these rivers, which can effectively store a larger quantity of water.
The project is proposed on river Marusudar, a tributary of river Chenab in Kishtwar and is around 45 km from Kishtwar.
The project envisages construction of a 167-m high dam, an underground power house with four units of 250 MW each.
At 167 m, the concrete-faced rock fill dam is the highest dam of its kind in India and 72m of dam height progress with filling of 24.78 Lakh Cum was achieved during 2023-24.
The Power Purchase Agreements in respect of Pakal Dul HE Project have also been signed.
The first Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) for construction of the 7350-m Head Race Tunnel-1 of Pakal Dul HE Project was successfully launched in July 2023. The TBM deployed is one of the most advanced machine manufactured by M/s Herrenknecht, Germany considering the site geological conditions and is capable of simultaneous boring and segment lining. The Dam works and Power House works of Pakal Dul HE Project are already in advanced stages.
With the start of construction of Head Race Tunnel, the project is now fast approaching its completion as per the target, officials say.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the project on May 19, 2018.
First Published:
May 06, 2025, 18:15 IST
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