Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a high-level meeting to review and accelerate the development of hydropower projects in Jammu & Kashmir, emphasizing their critical role in achieving sustainable economic growth and energy security.
Senior officials from the Power Development Department, Finance, Disaster Management, and Deputy Commissioners participated, with a clear directive from the Chief Secretary to complete all projects within set timelines.
“Hydropower is the mainstay of our economy. Timely execution is non-negotiable,” Dulloo asserted, highlighting the sector’s potential to generate employment and boost industrial development in the Union Territory.
A key focus of the meeting was ensuring that rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) plans for affected communities include market-driven skill training, enabling local youth to benefit directly from ongoing projects. The Chief Secretary also called for prioritizing public demands through the Local Area Development component to ensure inclusive benefits.
Principal Secretary PDD Rajesh Prasad informed the meeting that J&K has a hydropower potential of 18,000 MW, with 15,000 MW already identified. Of this, 3,540.15 MW has been tapped so far, and 7,768 MW is under various stages of implementation, including 3,063.5 MW under construction.
Major projects under progress include:
Parnai HEP (37.5 MW): 64% complete, to be commissioned by Dec 2027
Karnah HEP (12 MW): 74.75% complete, expected by Nov 2025
Pakaldul HEP (1000 MW): 70% progress, target Dec 2026
Kiru HEP (624 MW): 64% complete, also due Dec 2026
Kwar HEP (540 MW): 22.15% progress, due March 2028
Ratle HEP (850 MW): Excavation work nearing completion, set for Aug 2029
Upcoming projects include Sawalkote (1856 MW), Kirthai I & II, Dulhasti-II, Uri-I Stage II, Bursar, and Ujh Multipurpose projects.
JKSPDC is also expanding into solar energy with a 10 MW agro-solar project at Pampore and floating solar projects on the Lower Jehlum and Baglihar reservoirs.
The Chief Secretary assured fast-track approvals and resolution of project bottlenecks, reiterating the government’s commitment to making J&K a power-surplus region.