STC NEWS MONITORING DESK
NEW DELHI, APRIL 29 (STC): While keeping the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) in ‘abeyance’, India is reportedly exploring to expedite the work on five hydroelectric power projects in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. This move, as per the experts, is going to boost J&K’s power generation by 4000MW.
A report by the Economic Times (ET) reveals that discussions in this regard have started among various agencies including the Central Water Commission, Central Electricity Authority, NHPC and J&K Power Development Corporation.
The report quoting sources states that the Centre is discussing proceeding with the 800 MW Bursar hydroelectric power plant, the 260 MW Dulhasti II, Swalkote 1856 MW HEP, Uri Stage II- 240 MW and Kirthai II- 930 MW projects. These five projects-expected to take 3-5 years for completion-are among those identified for fast-tracking by the government in its recent round of high-level meetings in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack.
The report further adds that they also form part of India’s mid-term plan on walking away from IWT. With the exception of Uri-II which recently got IWT clearance, the others are pending a go-ahead from the IWT process before India can proceed with them,
Remarkably, Swalkote is the biggest of these projects-with a 192.5-metre dam-in Ramban district, while Dulhasti Stage-II will come up in Kishtwar district, featuring an underground powerhouse (2×130 MW). The Bursar hydroelectric project is a ‘storage project’ planned in Kishtwar district and will allow regulation of water flow, helping enhance all other downstream projects as well during the lean flow months, reports ET.
Notably, by virtue of the IWT, India is allowed to build hydel projects on the western river systems of Jhelum, Chenab and Indus strictly through run-of-the-river mechanisms. Besides, among other things, these are required to meet specific design and operation criteria in line with the IWT.
(STC)