Chenab Basin Accounts for Majority of Jammu & Kashmir's Untapped Hydropower Potential

The Chenab Basin accounts for nearly four-fifths of Jammu & Kashmir's identified hydropower potential that remains to be harnessed, according to official data presented during a recent high-level government review. The basin forms a central part of the region's planned expansion of electricity generation over the next decade.

Government figures show an identified hydropower potential of 14,635 MW across three major river basins in Jammu & Kashmir. Of this total, approximately 24.21 per cent has been harnessed to date, leaving about 11,092 MW to be developed. The Chenab Basin holds the largest share with an identified potential of 11,283 MW. It is followed by the Jhelum Basin with 3,084 MW and the Ravi Basin with 500 MW, making Chenab the primary focus for future development.

The concentration of projects in the Chenab region is reflected in the planned additions to the region's generation capacity. Major projects currently under execution include the 1,000 MW Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project, the 624 MW Kiru HEP, the 540 MW Kwar HEP, the 850 MW Ratle HEP, along with the 820 MW Kirthai-II and 390 MW Kirthai-I projects.

According to government officials, the target is to increase Jammu & Kashmir's operational hydropower generation capacity from the current 3,540.15 MW to 10,969.65 MW by December 2035. The initial major additions are anticipated by 2027, when Pakal Dul, Kiru, and Karnah are scheduled to contribute a combined 1,636 MW, lifting cumulative installed capacity to 5,176.15 MW.

Further expansion is planned for 2028 with the addition of 1,390 MW through the Kwar and Ratle projects, taking cumulative capacity to 6,630.65 MW. Additionally, Central Sector projects such as Dulhasti Stage-II and Uri-I Stage-II are projected to contribute another 500 MW by December 2029.

Several major projects are reported to be in advanced stages of construction. Official data indicates that the Pakal Dul project has achieved 85 per cent physical progress, while Kiru has recorded 88.75 per cent physical progress. The Kwar project is 37.82 per cent complete, and Ratle has achieved 31.53 per cent physical progress. Among smaller installations, the 12 MW Karnah HEP has reached 93 per cent completion, and the 37.5 MW Parnai HEP has reached 72.5 per cent physical progress.

These planned capacity additions are expected to more than triple the current installed hydropower capacity by December 2035, with the Chenab Basin driving a substantial share of the overall expansion.

"The systematic development of Jammu & Kashmir's hydropower potential presents a major infrastructure opportunity. With nearly 80 percent of the identified potential in the Chenab Basin still untapped and multiple large-scale projects currently advancing through construction phases, this long-term expansion plan will significantly alter the region's energy capacity and economic landscape by 2035." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes