Acting swiftly on strategically important projects after the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), an expert committee of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has recommended environmental clearance for the construction of the 1,856 MW Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River in Ramban district of Jammu & Kashmir.

The project, being developed by NHPC Limited, is one of the largest hydropower initiatives on the Chenab — one of the western rivers along with the Indus and Jhelum that currently flow into Pakistan, even though India retains rights to use their waters for non-consumptive purposes such as hydroelectric generation. Construction work will commence following completion of formalities with the Union Territory government.

The run-of-the-river project, spread across Ramban, Reasi, and Udhampur districts, will be executed in two stages — Stage I (6 x 225 MW & 1 x 56 MW) and Stage II (2 x 225 MW) — covering over 1,401 hectares at an estimated cost of ₹31,380 crore. The project design includes a 192.5-metre-high concrete dam, an upstream water channel, an underground powerhouse, and a tailrace system to return water to the Chenab.

According to the minutes of the Expert Appraisal Committee’s (EAC) meeting held on September 26, the approval was granted with multiple environmental safeguards. These include the formation of a dedicated environmental management team, installation of an online monitoring system for environmental flow (e-flow) releases, and implementation of a comprehensive land compensation mechanism.

Also Read: India Accelerates Green Hydrogen Push with ₹1.85 Lakh Crore NTPC Project, Targets 2030 Milestone

The panel has also mandated socio-economic and disaster management measures, alongside a requirement for an independent environmental impact study to be undertaken five years after the project’s commissioning.

With this clearance, the Sawalkot project is poised to become a cornerstone of India’s renewed hydropower push — reinforcing strategic control over western river resources and advancing the nation’s clean energy and energy security goals.

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