Sawalkote Hydropower Project: India Revives J&K’s Largest Hydroelectric Plant

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