India has begun its work on the Rs 5,129 crore Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir. The project is one of the first to get greenlit by the Modi government after the abrogation of the Indus water treaty.
According to documents accessed by News18, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited invited companies to build the mega dam project on February 5.
The project situated in the Udhampur and Ramban districts may take about 9 years to complete.
The report showed an urgency in the construction plans: “Construction methodology and selection of equipment have been planned to commission the project as early as possible," it read.
An expert committee of the environment ministry cleared the 1,856 MW project last October following the suspension of the Indus water treaty. The NHPC has invited bids to build it.
The documents also say that major construction works shall start after the necessary initial mobilisation. The project will be developed in two stages. Stage One will see a 1,406 MW project coming up, and a 450 MW project in Stage Two, which is located on the Chenab River between the Baglihar Project to its upstream and the Salal Project to its downstream
“Available working season in a year in the project area shall be 12 months for all underground works & for surface works with full progress rate during non-monsoon period and with 50% progress rate in monsoon period."
Last month, the centre issued a firm direction to fast-track four major hydropower projects on the Chenab river system. Officials had been asked to commission the Pakl Dul and Kiru Project by December 2026, and to complete the Kwar and Ratle projects by 2028.
The Ratle and Kwar project has been closely monitored by Pakistan.
The centre has approved multiple projects which it considered strategic and critical on the Chenab after India stepped away from the treaty.
Once the Pakal Dul is commissioned, India would be able to regulate the timing of water flow, a capability Pakistan has been concerned about.
The Chenab is part of the Indus basin, one of the primary sources of water supply for 90 per cent of Pakistan's agriculture.
The article stated that about 9 out of ten Pakistanis depend on water that first flows through Indian territory.
Projects like the Sawalkote would give leverage to India on the rivers upstream.
