Pakal Dul powers ahead

Srinagar, Jul 12: The Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project, one of Jammu and Kashmir’s most ambitious energy infrastructure ventures, has reached 70 percent physical completion, with a commissioning target set for December 2026.

Situated in the rugged terrain of Kishtwar district, the 1000 MW project is being executed by Chenab Valley Power Projects Pvt Ltd (CVPPL), a joint venture between NHPC Ltd, JKSPDC, and PTC India.

A senior Power Department official said, “The project is progressing at a good pace, with 70 percent of the work already completed. We are targeting December 2026 as the deadline for its full commissioning.”

Once operational, Pakal Dul will be the largest hydropower facility in J&K and feature the tallest dam on the Indian side of the Indus River system.

The 167-meter-high concrete-face rockfill dam on the Marusudar River, a key tributary of the Chenab, will form a reservoir with a gross storage capacity of 108 million cubic meters.

According to officials, water from the reservoir will travel through two 10-km-long headrace tunnels to an underground powerhouse equipped with four 250 MW Francis turbines.

The plant is expected to generate 3330 million units of electricity annually.

Transmission will be facilitated via a 400 kV high-temperature low-sag (HTLS) DC overhead line, designed to operate reliably across the region’s harsh topography.

Beyond its engineering significance, Pakal Dul holds considerable strategic value.

Its importance has grown following India’s decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan earlier this year.

Officials say the project is fully compliant with international norms and possesses all requisite clearances.

J&K’s administration has termed the project transformative, with far-reaching implications for regional energy security and economic development.

In addition to clean energy, J&K will receive 12 percent free power for the first 10 years and retain the first right of refusal for any surplus electricity.

The project is also set to generate jobs and boost local infrastructure.

Despite remote work conditions and high-altitude logistics, the project has maintained steady momentum due to coordinated efforts between implementing agencies and government departments.

Pakal Dul’s advancement aligns with J&K’s broader strategy to harness its estimated 18,000 MW hydropower potential, of which around 15,000 MW has already been identified.

Currently, 3540.15 MW has been tapped, with 1197.4 MW in the UT sector, 2250 MW in the central sector (via NHPC), and 92.75 MW by Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

According to officials, 15 additional projects totalling 7768 MW are underway.

Of these, 3063.5 MW are under construction, 641 MW are at the tender or award stage, and 4063.5 MW are in advanced stages of appraisal or Detailed Project Report (DPR) preparation.

As the Pakal Dul project enters its final stretch, it represents not just a milestone in engineering but a linchpin in India’s clean energy ambitions, water sovereignty, and regional empowerment.