Dulhasti Stage-II Hydropower Project Gets Green Clearance

The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on hydel projects under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved the 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district.

Backdrop: Indus Waters Treaty in Abeyance
The clearance comes against the backdrop of India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), 1960 with Pakistan following the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. The Chenab basin is one of the river systems governed under the treaty framework.

Project Planned Under Treaty Provisions
While the Indus Waters Treaty was in force, Pakistan had rights over the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers, while India had rights over the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The parameters of the Dulhasti Stage-II project were originally planned in accordance with the treaty provisions.

Push for Hydropower in Indus Basin
With the treaty now in abeyance, the Centre is accelerating hydropower development in the Indus basin. Several projects are being advanced, including Sawalkote, Ratle, Bursar, Pakal Dul, Kwar, Kiru, and Kirthai-I and II.

Extension of Existing Dulhasti Project
Dulhasti Stage-II is an extension of the existing 390 MW Dulhasti Stage-I Hydroelectric Project, also known as the Dulhasti Power Station. The Stage-I project has been successfully operating since its commissioning in 2007.

Role of NHPC
The Dulhasti Stage-I project is operated by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (NHPC), and the new stage is expected to strengthen power generation capacity in Jammu and Kashmir while enhancing India’s utilisation of the Chenab basin waters.

Source: TH