Latest news with #SawalkoteHydroelectricProject
New Indian Express
31-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Centre initiates 1,856 MW Sawalkote hydro project after suspension of Indus Water Treaty
SRINAGAR: In the first major move following the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan after the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, the Centre has taken a decisive step towards harnessing Jammu and Kashmir's full water resource potential by inviting bids for the construction of the 1,856 MW Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River. The Sawalkote project is set to become the largest hydroelectric project in the Union Territory. The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) floated the tendering process for the Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River in Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir on 29 July. 'Online electronic bids are invited by NHPC on International Competitive Bidding (ICB) basis for the work of 'Lot-1 Package: Planning, Design & Engineering (PDE) works for execution of 1,856 MW Sawalkote Hydro Project located near Sidhu village in Ramban District of UT of J&K, India,' reads a tender notice issued by NHPC. According to the tender, the project, with an estimated cost of ₹209.80 crore, is to be completed within 113 months. The date for submission of bids for the key power project in J&K is 3 September, while the deadline for submission of the online Techno-Commercial Bid and Price Bid is 10 September (5 pm). The deadline for submission of the hard copy (offline documents) to the Tender Inviting Authority is 12 September (11 am). The Sawalkote hydro project had remained stalled since its proposal in the 1960s due to administrative hurdles, environmental concerns, and Pakistan's objection to its construction, citing concerns about the impact of the dam on the flow of the Chenab River. After the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack, in which 25 tourists and a local ponywala were allegedly killed, India put the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan in abeyance. Under the treaty brokered by the World Bank in 1960, India has absolute rights over the waters of the Beas, Sutlej, and Ravi rivers, while Pakistan has rights over the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers. In addition to the construction of the Sawalkote power project, the central government is also set to revive the Tulbul Navigation Project on Wullar Lake in Jammu and Kashmir. In 1981, the new Tulbul Navigation Project (also known as the Wullar Barrage) on Wullar Lake in North Kashmir was conceived. However, the project had to be halted as Pakistan objected to its construction. The Wullar Barrage project is a navigation lock-cum-control structure located at the outlet of Wullar Lake in North Kashmir. It was designed to facilitate navigation on the Jhelum River during the lean winter months. The project would have helped regulate water flow and assisted in downstream power generation. 'Since IWT has been put in abeyance, India does not need Pakistan's consent now. We can now start work on the power projects in J&K as per our likings without any interference from Pakistan,' officials said. J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha recently said the suspension of IWT would bring immense benefit to Jammu and Kashmir, allowing it to harness its true hydropower potential. 'The barren areas of Jammu can be irrigated, and there will be new momentum in the development of infrastructure in J&K.' 'India's water will now flow within India and remain in India. With the termination of IWT, we now have full control over the Jhelum and Chenab rivers,' he said. India, he said, will now create infrastructure, power plants, and diversions to new areas with proper infrastructure to utilise the water, enabling the construction of new reservoirs. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also backed the central government's decision to put the 1960 IWT in abeyance and termed the treaty as the 'most unfair document' to the people of J&K.
India Today
31-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
After Indus treaty pause, India floats tender to tap Chenab's full potential
Months after India put the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) on hold, it is now moving to revive a long-stalled hydropower project on the Chenab — first envisioned six decades ago but held back by the very treaty with Pakistan. India has floated an international tender, which shows a definitive shift in its strategy on the Indus Water premier Centre-owned agency for hydropower development, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), on July 29 invited international tenders for the 1,856-MW Sawalkote Hydroelectric Power Project on the Chenab River in Jammu and the suspension of the IWT in April after the terror attack in Pahalgam, India is now moving to harness a western river, previously allocated to Pakistan under the treaty, to maximise its hydropower potential. It is asserting its rightful share and prioritising water development of the Sawalkote Hydroelectric Power Project follows its approval by the Environment Ministry panel in July and its designation as a "project of national importance", which enabled the NHPC to float a Rs 200-crore tender on July 29, cutting red tape and fast-tracking clearances for adherence to the IWT restricted India to non-consumptive use of the western rivers, the Indus, Jhelum, and treaty limited India's ability to build storage-based or large-scale irrigation projects on these three rivers. As a result, hydropower projects on the western rivers were mandated to be run-of-the-river, meaning they couldn't store large volumes of the IWT mandated that India provide a six-month notice to Pakistan before commencing any project. However, with the treaty now kept in abeyance, this requirement is no longer in effect, and data sharing will also like Sawalkote, Kishanganga, and Baglihar, all located on western rivers or their tributaries, have often faced objections from Pakistan, even though they store only limited water and are primarily designed for electricity the decision to fast-track the Sawalkote project, coupled with India holding the IWT in abeyance, and reports of India restricting water flows from existing dams, is being seen as a significant change in India's water strategy with respect to Pakistan, which relies heavily on the Indus basin for agriculture and hydropower. Map showing the proposed location of the Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, between Ramban and Udhampur districts (Source: NHPC DPR) SAWALKOTE TO OVERTAKE BAGLIHAR AS J&K'S BIGGEST HYDROPOWER PROJECTThe Sawalkote Hydroelectric Power Project, near Sidhu village in Ramban district, is poised to become Jammu and Kashmir's largest hydropower initiative, surpassing the 900 MW Baglihar in the 1960s by the Central Water Commission, the project remained dormant due to IWT restrictions and geopolitical National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) recently issued an e-tender for its construction, with bids due by September 10, project would feature a 192.5-metre roller-compacted concrete gravity dam, designed as a run-of-the-river scheme to harness the Chenab's high-velocity flow in the Western Himalayas. With over 10,000 square kilometres of its catchment area above the snowline, the Chenab offers immense hydropower potential, estimated at over 150,000 MW across the project's revival aligns with India's push for energy self-reliance and strategic control over water from the western rivers' resources after the suspension of the IWT, which several experts had termed "one-sided". The Sawalkote Hydroelectric Power Project on the Chenab River, a run-of-the-river project, is estimated to cost Rs 22,704 crore in two phases. (Image: NHPC) INDIA REDEFINED RED LINES, PUTS NATIONAL INTEREST FIRSTSigned in 1960 under World Bank mediation, the IWT allocated the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India and the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan, with India permitting limited non-consumptive uses like hydropower on the western Chenab, flowing from Himachal Pradesh through Jammu and Kashmir into Pakistan's Punjab, is critical for Pakistan, with the Indus Valley collectively irrigating 80% of its suspension of the IWT in April, citing Pakistan's support for cross-border terrorism, freed India from treaty obligations like data-sharing and prior notification of projects. India has since restricted water flows from the Baglihar and Salal dams on the Chenab, with reservoir flushing operations in May reducing downstream flows by up to 90% at Pakistan's Marala headworks, according to Pakistan's Indus River System Chenab's reduced flow threatened Kharif crop sowing between April and June, particularly paddy and cotton, critical for Pakistan's food security and textile industry, respectively. Fluctuating water levels, observed in May, with flows dropping to 3,100 cusecs at Marala, rang alarms in Islamabad, with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling the IWT suspension an "act of war".Later, Pakistan urged India to restore the treaty, and proposed dialogue to renegotiate India is instead focussing on its own priorities, driven by strategic interests and long-term plans to expand storage at existing dams and build new ones. India is now focussed on water and energy security with all seriousness, and the international tender for the Chenab hydropower project reflects that.- EndsMust Watch advertisement
NDTV
31-07-2025
- Business
- NDTV
India Plans Biggest Hydro Project In J&K, Months After Indus Treaty Suspension
Srinagar: India is all set to build its biggest hydroelectric power project on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, weeks after suspending the Indus Water Treaty. It's a massive 1856-Megawatt hydroelectric project that will be constructed without seeking a no objection from Pakistan, otherwise mandated under the treaty. The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has started the tendering process for the Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project. On Wednesday, NHPC formally invited bids on an International Competitive Bidding (ICB) basis for the project. The last date for submitting bids is September 10. The project is a joint venture of NHPC and J&K's Power Development Corporation. The project conceived in the 1980s was in limbo for the last 40 years. Besides procedural delays, Pakistan objected to the construction of the project, citing concerns about the impact of the dam on the flow of the Chenab River. The mega project will be built in two phases and is estimated to come up at a cost of Rs 22,704 crore. After the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, India declared it would hold the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance till the time Pakistan irrevocably abjures terrorism. Under the treaty brokered by the World Bank in 1960, India has absolute rights over the water of the Beas, Satlej and Ravi rivers. Pakistan has rights over the water of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers. Besides a limited usage of water for irrigation, India, however, can build run-of-the-river projects on these rivers. But it's subject to clearance from the Indus Water Commission over the design and height of projects. As part of the project, around a dozen villages will be affected, and the relocation of hundreds of families is part of the project. Officials say that while J&K State Power Development Corporation had started work on the project and spent over Rs 400 crore, the work was stalled a decade ago. In 2021, during the central rule, NHPC was roped in. An MOU was signed, making NHPC a majority stakeholder. According to the MOU, it will be a BOOT model ( build, own, operate and transfer) and J&K will fully get back the project after 40 years. Ahead of tendering, the government has removed several bottlenecks in the way of international bidding and the construction of this project of strategic importance. Recently, the Forest Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Environment granted approval for the transfer of about 3000 acres of reserved forest and jungle Jhari land for the construction of the project, officials said.
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
After over 40 years, India issues tender for Sawalkote project as Indus treaty remains in abeyance
SRINAGAR: India, taking advantage of its keeping in abeyance the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, floated on Wednesday international tenders for construction of the Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab river a little over 40 years after it was conceived. The project, designated by govt as one of national importance, had suffered long delays due to objections from Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty framework as well as multiple regulatory and administrative hurdles, including compensation issues involving 13 affected villages, relocation of the Army transit camp in Ramban, and forest land within the project area requiring clearances and compensation under environmental regulations. T he National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) initiated on Wednesday the tendering process for the power project, located near Sidhu village in J&K's Ramban district. The last date for submission of online bids is Sept 10. It invited international bids on a competitive bidding basis for planning, design, and engineering works for the 1,856 MW project. The last date for submission of online bids is Sept 10. Construction of the Sawalkote project is a major strategic development aimed at optimising India's use of Indus waters while the treaty with Pakistan remains in abeyance. The 1960 treaty had given India control of the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej rivers, and Pakistan the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum, with India being allowed a portion of waters from the 'western rivers (those under Pakistan control)' for certain uses. J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, who is also power minister, told TOI the project is of great significance and that he hoped it would finally take off. 'The project was originally conceived in the 1980s, but it was shelved after some time. In 1996, Dr Farooq Abdullah attempted to revive it with the help of a Norwegian consortium but that effort didn't succeed. Later, during my previous tenure, we tried to initiate the project again, but it encountered certain hurdles,' Omar said, adding that it was completely shelved during the tenure of the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed govt. Ramban MLA Arjun Singh Raju was the first to announce Wednesday's development, calling it a landmark moment. 'Sawalkote power project is the biggest in the country. Once completed, it will benefit not just Jammu and Kashmir, but the entire nation. I think it is a historical moment,' he said, adding, 'And the credit goes to chief minister Omar Abdullah, who fought relentlessly for this project,' he added. The run-of-river project is estimated to cost Rs 22,704.8 crore and will be developed in two stages. 'All issues have now been sorted out,' Raju said, adding that NHPC has also secured relaxation on the water cess, which had earlier delayed progress. Earlier this month, the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) granted 'in-principle' approval for the diversion of 847 hectares of forest land for the construction of the Sawalkote project. Conceived in 1984, the Sawalkote project, sources said it was given to NHPC in 1985. In 1997 it was given back to Jammu Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) for execution. Sources said approximately Rs 430 crore was spent by JKSPDC on 'enabling infrastructure' around the project. But no work had started on the main project. Then, in 2021, an MoU was signed with NHPC to revive and implement the project under the build-own-operate-transfer model.
