Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project Overview
The Sawalkote hydroelectric project is set to be constructed on the Chenab River in Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir, India. The project has received a fresh environmental clearance from an apex committee of the Environment Ministry. It marks a significant development in the context of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) suspension by India.
Project Approval and Environmental Clearance
- The project was initially granted environmental clearance in 2017 by a designated committee.
- In 2021, Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) transferred the project to the National Hydro Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd, which will manage it until 2061.
- A 'stage 1 forest clearance' was obtained in September 2023.
- Various approvals from the Central Electricity Authority and Central Water Commission were granted in July 2025.
- Public hearings, as required under the Forest Rights Act, were conducted between December 2022 and February 2023.
Strategic Importance and Specifications
- The project, despite lacking a storage dam, is strategically significant due to its scale and the suspension of the IWT.
- It involves a 192.5-meter high Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) gravity dam.
- Power generation units will include six units of 225 MW and one unit of 56 MW in the first stage, with two additional 225 MW units in the second stage.
Financial and Environmental Aspects
- The estimated project cost has increased from ₹22,000 crore to ₹31,380 crore.
- The installed capacity is projected to be 1856 MW, generating approximately 8,000 million units of electricity annually.
- The reservoir area will cover nearly 1,159 hectares, including 847 hectares of forest land.
Socio-Economic Impacts
- The project will affect 13 villages in Ramban and Gool Sangaldan tehsils, displacing 1,477 families.
- A resettlement and rehabilitation provision of ₹190 crore has been made for the affected families.
This project stands as a critical component in India's strategy to maximize the use of eastern Indus rivers and accelerate hydropower development in the region.