Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, April 5

Hydropower development in south Kashmir has advanced unevenly, with just a single government-operated mini project currently functional, even as a series of privately developed projects move forward at varying speeds, officials said.

The lone operational project is run by the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation in Pahalgam, where a 4.5-megawatt facility commissioned in 2013 remains active. 

While all three units are operational, electricity generation has dropped to roughly 1 megawatt because of reduced water discharge, according to government data.

Officials said most new hydropower projects in the region are being implemented under the Independent Power Producer model through the Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency.

These projects follow a Build, Own, Operate and Transfer framework, placing responsibility for execution and regulatory compliance on private developers, while the agency facilitates necessary clearances.

Though projects are typically expected to be completed within 54 months of being awarded, delays are common, largely tied to difficulties in securing financing and obtaining mandatory clearances from multiple departments.

Electricity generated from these projects is fed into the local grid and sold through open access by the Jammu and Kashmir Power Corporation Limited. 

Under current arrangements, the region is entitled to 12 percent free power after 10 years of a project’s commercial operation, in addition to roughly 9 percent in transmission and wheeling charges.

Two privately developed hydropower projects in Anantnag district have already been commissioned. The 5-megawatt Ichoo-Kokernag project began operations in March 2020, while the Mavar-Wayil project of the same capacity was commissioned in December 2023.

Several other projects remain under construction. 

These include the 1.65-megawatt Dadibal Kapran project and the 3-megawatt Daksum project, both of which have secured statutory clearances but are still in progress.

More recently awarded projects, such as the Sheshnag Pahalgam and Sedaw projects in Anantnag and Shopian districts, have completed regulatory approvals and are expected to move toward execution.

Additional projects across south Kashmir – ranging from small installations in Astanmarg and Dudal to sites in Sarbal, Bradhaj and Narastan – have also received clearances, though many are yet to break ground.

Some developments remain at preliminary stages. 

The Laam project in Pulwama is currently undergoing land acquisition, while the Langai project in Anantnag is awaiting clearance for forest land use.

Oversight of these initiatives varies by model. 

The state corporation directly supervises its own project, while privately developed projects are subject to periodic reviews to ensure compliance with technical, environmental and safety standards. 

Ultimately, however, responsibility for execution and regulatory approvals rests with the developers.

The uneven pace of progress highlights both the potential and the persistent challenges of expanding small-scale hydropower in the region, where terrain, environmental clearances and financing hurdles continue to shape outcomes.