India has begun the commissioning process for two large hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district, Pakal Dul and Kiru, a senior government official involved with the projects said. The official hopes both can be operational within the next couple of months. A second official said the government is reportedly aiming to start the process by the end of December.
The two projects
Pakal Dul is a 1,000 MW project on the Marusudar river, a tributary of the Chenab, built at a cost of Rs 8,112 crore. It has a 167-metre dam and an underground powerhouse with four 250 MW units. Kiru is a 624 MW project on the Chenab itself, costing Rs 4,287 crore, with a 135-metre dam and four 156 MW units. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid its foundation stone in February 2019. Both are run-of-river projects built by Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited, a joint venture of NHPC and the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation.
Once commissioning starts, testing and the filling and emptying of the reservoirs take considerable time, an official said. Two more projects are further off: Kwar, of 540 MW, is likely by 2028, and Ratle, of 850 MW, is delayed.
The treaty angle
The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty has been on hold since April 2025, after the Pahalgam terror attack. Under it, India has unrestricted use of the eastern rivers, the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, about 20 per cent of the system's water, while Pakistan has unrestricted use of the western rivers, the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, about 80 per cent. India may use the western rivers only for non-consumptive purposes such as run-of-river hydropower. An official said the design and operating limits no longer apply while the treaty is on hold, which should speed up projects. Whether and when the treaty will be renegotiated is unclear.
India's western-river water could support about 18,569 MW of hydropower, of which about 3,500 MW has been developed, including Baglihar, Salal and Kishanganga. Proposed projects include Sawalkot at 1,856 MW, Kirthai-II at 930 MW, Dulhasti Stage-II at 260 MW and Uri-I Stage-II at 240 MW. India is also considering a tunnel of 10 to 12 km to move water from the Chenab to the Ravi.
On the eastern rivers, the Shahpurkandi project on the Ravi, costing Rs 3,300 crore, is expected to be fully operational by mid-2027, with its 206 MW hydro component nearing completion. India already uses about 95 per cent of its eastern-river share. The officials spoke anonymously, and the report carried no response from Pakistan.
