SRINAGAR: The 1,856 MW Sawlakote Hydro Electric Project on the Chenab River, once envisioned as Jammu Kashmir’s largest power generation project, remains stuck in the pre-construction stage, seven years after it was cleared by the Central Electricity Authority (CEA). The government has confirmed that the project’s commissioning timeline has lapsed and its execution now rests with NHPC under a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) arrangement.
According to official details placed before the Jammu Kashmir Assembly, the techno-economic appraisal for the Sawlakote project was accorded by the CEA in April 2018, with an expected commissioning date of May 31, 2026. The 96-month schedule, however, excluded a two-year pre-construction period. The project, estimated to cost around Rs 10,000 crore, was originally to be implemented by the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC) before being handed over to NHPC under a Memorandum of Understanding signed on January 3, 2021, during the period of central rule in the Union Territory.
The project, spread across Udhampur, Ramban and Reasi districts, has faced multiple setbacks due to its remote terrain, challenging access, and lengthy regulatory processes including environmental, forest, and social impact assessments linked to large-scale submergence. The CEA had to re-examine and modify the design several times due to complex geological conditions, limited site access, and the need for engineering redesigns to address tunnelling and foundation stability.
Before its handover to NHPC, the JKSPDC had completed several major pre-construction works, including the 1.5 km main access tunnel to the project site, an 18.5 km approach road, a 178-metre steel bridge over the Chenab River, and the Mandiyal Bridge across Mandiyal Khad.
As per official data, Rs 40.41 crore has been disbursed as land acquisition compensation so far out of a sanctioned Rs 313 crore, leaving a balance of Rs 272.59 crore yet to be paid. The Ramban district collector confirmed that land acquisition for project components is ongoing and awards are being finalised for affected villages.
Once completed, the Sawlakote project will be among India’s largest hydropower ventures, expected to generate more than 7,500 million units of electricity annually. During its construction phase, the project is expected to provide direct and indirect employment to nearly 6,500 people, with priority to be given to local residents, particularly those whose land is affected by the project.
Officials said the Jammu Kashmir Government has requested the Union Power Ministry to consider executing the project in joint venture mode, similar to the Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (CVPPL) model, to ensure greater local participation and accountability.
Despite repeated revisions and official assurances, work on the Sawlakote project, first conceived in the late 1990s, has yet to begin in earnest, making it one of the longest-pending hydropower projects in Jammu Kashmir’s history.
