SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Small Hydropower Association (JAKASH) on Tuesday welcomed the Union Government’s approval of a new small hydro power development scheme and the expansion of glacial lake monitoring systems in the Himalayan region, saying the measures could strengthen renewable energy generation and disaster preparedness in the Union Territory.
The response came after the Union Cabinet approved a Rs 2,584.60 crore Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme for 2026–2031 aimed at adding around 1,500 MW of small hydro capacity across the country.
Under the scheme, projects in international border districts will receive Central Financial Assistance of up to Rs 3.6 crore per MW, a provision expected to benefit Jammu and Kashmir because of its large hydropower potential and geographical location.
Muddasir Mir Nazir, president of JAKASH and executive member of the Federation of Indian Small and Micro Hydro Power Stations (FISH), said the initiative could help attract investment and improve power infrastructure in remote areas.
“The scheme creates opportunities for investment, employment and energy security in hilly and border regions,” he said in a statement.
The association also welcomed the Centre’s decision to expand Early Warning System coverage from 30 to 60 high-risk glacial lakes in the Himalayan belt, including in Jammu and Kashmir, with support from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
The expansion comes amid growing concerns over Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), which experts have identified as a major threat to mountain communities and infrastructure, including hydropower projects.
Nazir said the enhanced monitoring network would improve preparedness and reduce risks associated with extreme weather events and glacier-related disasters.
He said the hydropower sector in Jammu and Kashmir requires both investment support and stronger climate resilience measures because of the region’s difficult terrain and increasing vulnerability to environmental hazards.
According to JAKASH, the newly approved hydro scheme is expected to mobilise investments of nearly Rs 15,000 crore nationwide and generate employment in remote regions.
Nazir, who attended the launch of the SHP Scheme website at Akshay Urja Bhavan in New Delhi, also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Prahlad Joshi for the initiatives.
The association said it would work with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC), Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) and NDMA for implementation of the projects in the Union Territory.
