Jammu & Kashmir to Invest $3.27 Billion in First Phase of 2,220-Megawatt Hydropower Project

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The semi-autonomous Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) government in northern India is implementing three mega-power projects to harness 2,220 megawatts (MW) of hydropower, with an estimated investment of $3.27 billion in the first phase of the project.

Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (Jammu), a special purpose joint venture (JV) company, will be initially involved in the development of the three projects--named Pakuldul, Kiru and Kawar--in J&K. The project was announced at a high-level meeting chaired by Omar Abdullah, the government's chief minister.

There are further plans to develop the second-phase, 450-MW Dulhasti hydropower (HEP) project.

Abdullah said that self-reliance in power generation looms large on the economic spectrum, and a multi-pronged strategy had been put in place by the government to make necessary progress in power generation and distribution.

The growth and development of a state like J&K depends greatly on the availability of power. The state has rich potential for hydropower generation and this has been flagged as one of the most important concerns in the development agenda, Abdullah said.

The Pakuldul HEP project involves an estimated investment of $1.67 billion to generate 1,000 MW. The completion schedule for the project is more than six years from the date of the awarding of works. The project is located in the Kishtwar district and will utilize the Marusudar tributary of the River Chinab at the Drangdhuran village, about 45 kilometers from Kishtwar.

The power station will be underground at the village of Dul, about 26 kilometers from Kishtwar. It will have four 250-MW units and an annual power generation capacity of 3.23 billion units.

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