JAN 6 : Union Minister Shri Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday concluded his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir with a comprehensive review of key hydropower projects being developed under the Chenab Valley Power Projects (CVPP). The visit underscored the Government of India’s focus on strengthening renewable energy infrastructure in the Union Territory while ensuring timely execution of strategically important power projects.
During the visit, the Union Minister inspected all three major CVPP projects currently under construction — Pakal Dul (1000 MW), Kiru (624 MW) and Kwar (540 MW). These hydropower projects are considered crucial for enhancing power generation capacity, ensuring energy security and supporting sustainable development in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Minister held a detailed review meeting with project heads, senior engineers and contractors associated with the projects. The Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of NHPC Ltd provided an in-depth briefing on the current status of construction, technical progress, challenges on the ground and timelines for completion of the projects. The discussion also covered issues related to logistics, manpower deployment, environmental compliance and coordination among executing agencies.
After reviewing the progress, Shri Manohar Lal Khattar issued clear directions to ensure strict adherence to timelines. He directed that the Pakal Dul and Kiru hydropower projects must be commissioned by December 2026, while the Kwar project should be completed and made operational by March 2028. Emphasising accountability, the Minister called for close monitoring and regular progress reviews to avoid delays.
Highlighting the strategic and economic importance of these projects, the Minister said that hydropower plays a key role in India’s clean energy transition and aligns with the national vision of sustainable and self-reliant energy development. He stressed that timely completion of these projects would not only add significant capacity to the national grid but also generate employment and support local economic growth in the region.
The Pakal Dul project, with an installed capacity of 1000 MW, is the largest hydropower project in Jammu and Kashmir. Once commissioned, it is expected to substantially boost the region’s power availability and reduce dependence on external sources. The Kiru and Kwar projects, located on the Chenab River, are also strategically significant and form an integrated part of the Chenab basin development plan.
The Union Minister urged all stakeholders, including executing agencies and contractors, to maintain high standards of quality, safety and environmental responsibility during construction. He also emphasised the need for effective coordination between central agencies and local administration to resolve issues swiftly and keep the projects on track.
Officials informed the Minister that necessary steps are being taken to streamline procurement, strengthen monitoring mechanisms and address site-specific challenges arising from difficult terrain and weather conditions. The Minister expressed confidence that with focused efforts and coordinated action, the projects would meet the revised timelines.
The visit and review reflect the Centre’s continued commitment to accelerating infrastructure development in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the renewable energy sector. The successful commissioning of these hydropower projects is expected to play a transformative role in meeting the region’s energy needs while contributing to India’s broader clean energy and climate goals
