Govt may skip clearance process of IWT for 5 key J&K hydroelectric projects

As India keeps the Indus Waters Treaty in ‘abeyance’, it is looking to expedite at least five major hydroelectric power projects in Jammu & Kashmir-which can now move significantly faster if the mandated IWT clearance mechanism is skipped. ET has learnt that the Centre is discussing proceeding with the 800 MW Bursar hydroelectric power plant, the 260 MW Dulhasti II, Swalkote 1856 MW HEP, Uri Stage II- 240 MW and Kirthai II- 930 MW projects. These five projects-expected to take 3-5 years for completion-are among those identified for fast-tracking by the government in its recent round of high-level meetings in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack. They also form part of India’s mid-term plan on walking away from IWT. With the exception of Uri-II which recently got IWT clearance, the others are pending a go-ahead from the IWT process before India can proceed with them, ET has learnt.

The Modi government’s plan to fast-track these projects is aimed at fulfilling dual purposes-meet J&K power requirements, while ensuring India’s strategic leverage over western river water systems, presently considerably constrained by the IWT. Together, these projects could help produce 4000MW in power-starved J&K. All, except for Uri Stage II, which is planned on the Jhelum River in Baramulla district, are planned to be constructed in the Chenab valley.

Swalkote is the biggest of these projects-with a 192.5-metre dam-in Ramban district, while Dulhasti Stage-II will come up in Kishtwar district, featuring an underground powerhouse (2×130 MW). The Bursar hydroelectric project is a ‘storage project’ planned in Kishtwar district and will allow regulation of water flow, helping enhance all other downstream projects as well during the lean flow months. Currently, the IWT allows India to build hydel projects on the western river systems of Jhelum, Chenab and Indus strictly through run-of-the-river mechanisms. These are also required to meet specific design and operation criteria, as per the IWT. The treaty further allows Pakistan to raise objections on design specifics of Indian hydel projects. This has been seen in several instances-most recently in 2021 in case of the 1000MW Pakal Dul in Kishtwar and Lower Kalnai project in Doda district besides Durbuk Shyok and Nimu Chilling.

Following abrogation of Article 370, Pakistan also sought information on various projects in J&K and Ladakh, holding them up. Islamabad’s objections on Kishanganga and Ratle projects have taken the matter to the ‘neutral expert’ for dispute resolution, delaying the pace of execution by several years-a major sore point for India. Uri-II itself was held up amid Pakistan’s design-related objections since 2010. With the Centre putting the IWT in abeyance, India is looking to skip this step altogether and push ahead. That can particularly help in case of projects that have already got necessary clearances within India including technical and environmental approvals, and are just awaiting the IWT go ahead, which is the case with most of the five identified projects.

The Centre is also looking at other hydel projects to ensure full exploitation of its share of waters under IWT. These will be part of the long-term steps India is expected to take as part of its three-step strategy on IWT.ET gathers that discussions have started among various agencies including the Central Water Commission, Central Electricity Authority, NHPC and J&K Power Development Corporation on this matter.