Govt Says Hydropower Projects of 3,014 MW Underway in Jammu Kashmir, Solar Capacity Expanding | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: The government has said it is implementing major hydropower and renewable energy initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen the Union Territory’s power infrastructure and accelerate the transition to clean energy.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy Shripad Naik said that NHPC Limited is executing four large hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir with a combined installed capacity of 3,014 MW through joint venture companies with the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation. These include the 850 MW Ratle project, the 1,000 MW Pakal Dul project, the 624 MW Kiru project, and the 540 MW Kwar project, all located in Kishtwar district. The minister said the projects are at different stages of implementation and are scheduled for completion between December 2026 and November 2028.

The government also said that three additional hydropower projects are at the planning stage in the Union Territory. These include Uri-I Stage-II with a capacity of 240 MW in Baramulla district, Dulhasti Stage-II of 260 MW in Kishtwar district, and the 1,856 MW Sawalkot project spread across Ramban and Udhampur districts. Together, these projects have a planned capacity of 2,356 MW.

On renewable energy, the minister said that under the PM Surya Ghar: Muft Bijli Yojana, as many as 16,212 rooftop solar systems have been installed in Jammu and Kashmir as of December 11, 2025. He added that under the PM-KUSUM scheme, the Union Territory has been allocated 5,000 solar pumps, of which 3,601 had been installed by November 30, 2025.

The minister further informed the House that the Solar Energy Corporation of India has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation for the development of a 10 MW solar photovoltaic project in the Union Territory. He said the project is scheduled to be completed within 12 months of the award of work.