The Sawalkote project, first envisioned six decades ago but stalled due to the Indus Waters Treaty and environmental concerns, has now been cleared for revival. With an estimated cost of ₹22,704 crore, the project aims to transform J&K into a power-surplus region, meeting local demand and exporting surplus electricity to the national grid.
Key Features of the Sawalkote Hydropower Project
Location and River
- Situated on the Chenab River in the Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir
- A run-of-the-river project, minimizing large-scale displacement
Capacity and Design
- Installed capacity: 1,856 MW, making it the largest hydro project in J&K and one of North India’s biggest
- Dam Type: 192.5-metre roller-compacted concrete gravity dam
- Expected annual generation: Over 7,000 million units of electricity
Implementing Agencies
- To be executed jointly by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd and the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC)
Benefits
- Boost to winter power supply in J&K, reducing seasonal shortages
- Potential to turn J&K into a power-surplus region, enabling energy export
- Flood mitigation downstream by regulating Chenab’s flow
- Improved water management for agriculture and domestic use
Connection with the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)
About the Treaty
- Signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, with the World Bank as mediator
- Divides the Indus River System into Eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej — allocated to India) and Western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab — primarily for Pakistan)
- India’s Rights: Limited use of Western rivers for domestic needs, navigation, flood control, agriculture, and hydropower generation, without altering flow
Dispute Resolution Mechanism
- Permanent Indus Commission (PIC): Handles technical issues
- Neutral Expert: Appointed by the World Bank or both countries for unresolved disputes
- Court of Arbitration: A seven-member tribunal for legal conflicts
Why It Matters for Sawalkote
- The Chenab River falls under the Western rivers
- Sawalkote’s revival signals India’s assertive stance after putting the IWT on hold, potentially reshaping the water-sharing dynamics with Pakistan