4 Major Hydropower Projects Under Construction in Jammu Kashmir, Data Shows | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is emerging as one of the country’s largest hydropower construction hubs, with five major projects currently being built in the Union territory under NHPC’s joint venture companies, according to details tabled in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. Together, these projects will add 3,014 MW of new capacity once completed.

The Ministry of Power informed the House that the Ratle (850 MW), Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Kiru (624 MW) and Kwar (540 MW) projects in J and K are under execution through joint venture company Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (CVPPL) and Ratle Hydro Power Corporation Limited (RHPCL). Their estimated commissioning timelines range from December 2026 to March 2028. The Ratle project is expected to be commissioned in November 2028, while Pakal Dul and Kiru are scheduled for completion in December 2026. The Kwar project is targeted for March 2028.

The combined anticipated cost of these four large projects in the Union territory stands at Rs 27,945 crore, with a projected design energy output of 10,614 million units annually. The Ministry said these developments position J and K as a significant contributor to India’s future hydropower expansion.

Overall, NHPC Limited and its subsidiaries have 8 hydropower projects under construction nationwide, with a total planned capacity of 8,514 MW. These include Subansiri Lower (2,000 MW), Dibang Multipurpose Project (2,880 MW) and Teesta-VI (500 MW). Their combined estimated cost is Rs 98,107 crore.

The Government also stated that NHPC has already commissioned 23 hydropower projects with a total installed capacity of 7,771 MW. These projects generated 29,894 million units of electricity in 2022–23, 26,056 million units in 2023–24, and 25,194 million units in 2024–25, while generation from April to October 2025 stood at 23,015 million units.

On concerns regarding employment for local residents affected by hydropower construction, the Ministry maintained that NHPC provides work opportunities to local people, including Project Affected Families, through contractors and bidding avenues. It added that grievances related to employment or rehabilitation can be raised through the CPGRAMS portal for time-bound redressal.