India Fast-Tracks Major Chenab Hydropower Projects, Signalling Strategic Shift in Indus Basin

India’s plans to accelerate hydropower development on the Chenab river system in Jammu and Kashmir are moving from strategic intent to on-ground execution, with the Centre issuing firm timelines for the completion of several key projects.

In a clear signal of priority, the Union government has directed authorities to fast-track four major hydropower projects on the Chenab. Officials have been instructed to commission the Pakal Dul and Kiru projects by December 2026, complete the Kwar project by March 2028, and significantly accelerate construction at the strategically sensitive Ratle dam.

The push follows a two-day inspection of dam sites in Jammu and Kashmir by Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, who reviewed progress across multiple projects and underlined that deadlines would now be strictly enforced.

While the projects are formally aimed at boosting electricity generation, their strategic implications extend well beyond the power sector. The Chenab is a key component of the Indus river basin, which forms the backbone of Pakistan’s water system. Nearly three-fourths of Pakistan’s water originates from the western rivers that flow from India, and more than 90 per cent of the country’s agriculture depends on this basin. Pakistan’s dams and canal networks are almost entirely structured around these river systems, making upstream developments a matter of sustained concern.

Pakal Dul: India’s First Major Storage Project on a Western River

The most significant of the projects is the 1,000 MW Pakal Dul hydropower project in Kishtwar district. At 167 metres, it is the highest dam in India and the largest project in the Chenab basin. Importantly, it is India’s first storage-based hydropower project on a western river that flows into Pakistan.

Located on a tributary of the Chenab, Pakal Dul was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2018. With the Indus Waters Treaty currently under strain, the Centre has now directed that the project be commissioned by December 2026. Once operational, it will allow India not only to generate electricity but also to regulate the timing of water releases, a capability that Pakistan has consistently viewed with apprehension.

Kiru and Kwar Projects to Follow Fixed Timelines

Running parallel to Pakal Dul is the Kiru project, also located in Kishtwar district. The 135-metre-high Kiru dam is a run-of-the-river project, but its importance lies in its integration within a cascading chain of hydropower projects along the Chenab. The Centre has set the same December 2026 deadline for Kiru, signalling its intention to bring both projects online simultaneously.

The third major project, Kwar, is another run-of-the-river dam on the Chenab with a height of 109 metres. A key engineering milestone was achieved in January 2024 when the river was successfully diverted to facilitate construction—a development that was closely monitored across the border. The government has now fixed March 2028 as the commissioning deadline.

Ratle Dam Fast-Tracked Amid Longstanding Objections

The Ratle hydropower project remains one of the most contentious developments on the Chenab. The 850 MW project involves a 133-metre-high dam and has faced objections from Pakistan for several years, particularly regarding the design of its spillways.

During his recent visit, the Power Minister laid the foundation stone for the dam’s concreting works, indicating that the project is now being fast-tracked. The Chenab was diverted through tunnels for the Ratle project in 2024, and the dam is expected to be completed by 2028.

Further Expansion Planned

Beyond these projects, India is also advancing plans for Dulhasti Stage-II on the Chenab. The project received clearance from the Environment Ministry’s expert panel in December and is planned downstream of the already operational Dulhasti-I project.

Pakistan has recently objected to the clearance, claiming it was not informed of the decision—an objection that India has rejected.

Together, the accelerated timelines mark a decisive phase in India’s hydropower expansion in Jammu and Kashmir, with implications that extend from energy security to regional water dynamics.