Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday said the Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project being implemented by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) in Jammu and Kashmir will add 800 megawatts of electricity to the national power grid.
During his visit to Kishtwar, Khattar also toured the Salal Power Project. Speaking to reporters, he said he was in Jammu and Kashmir to review multiple development initiatives. “I visited Salal Project Units 1 and 2 and conducted an aerial survey of the Sawalkot hydroelectric project,” he said.
The minister noted that all NHPC projects in the region are progressing despite several challenges. He said work on the Sawalkot project has now formally begun, though its start was delayed by two to two-and-a-half years due to various obstacles. “Despite the difficulties, all our NHPC projects are underway,” Khattar said.
He added that timely completion of the Sawalkot project would significantly boost India’s power generation capacity, with an expected output of 800 megawatts.
NHPC is developing the Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River across the Udhampur, Reasi and Ramban districts of Jammu and Kashmir. In July, the Centre invited tenders for the construction of the 1,856 MW project, which was originally conceptualised in the 1960s. NHPC issued an official notification seeking e-tenders, with September 10 set as the deadline for submission of online bids.
The project site is located near Sidhu village in Ramban district, around 120 kilometres from Jammu and 130 kilometres from Srinagar.
The construction of the Sawalkot project is seen as a key step in maximising India’s utilisation of Indus waters, especially after the Indus Waters Treaty was put in abeyance. The treaty was suspended as part of India’s strong measures against Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.
