More than 83 per cent of the work on the Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project has been completed, and the project is slated for commissioning in December 2026.
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kiru.cvppindia.com
Hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir’s Chenab Valley have long been marked by missed deadlines, cost overruns and repeated revisions to completion schedules. However, recent progress on several key projects suggests that work has gathered pace.The 624 MW Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project on the Chenab River in the Kishtwar district is the latest example. According to a recent monitoring report by the Centre, more than 83 per cent of the work has been completed, and the project is now slated for commissioning in December 2026.Approved in January 2022, the Kiru project was initially scheduled for commissioning in September 2023. The deadline was subsequently revised to July 2025, then extended again to December 2026. Union Power Minister Manohar Lal fixed the latest deadline during a review meeting in January this year.The project has also witnessed a significant cost escalation, with the estimated cost rising from the originally sanctioned ₹4,287.59 crore to ₹5,409 crore, an increase of over ₹1,121 crore.The 1,000 MW Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project has similarly witnessed substantial delays. Approved in February 2018, it was originally slated for completion in April 2020. However, the commissioning deadline has since been revised several times, with the latest target set for December 2026.Against its revised project cost of ₹12,728 crore, cumulative expenditure on the project has reached ₹7,238.73 crore. Located on the Marusudar River in Kishtwar district, the project comprises a 167-metre-high dam and an underground powerhouse with four generating units of 250 MW each.The 540 MW Kwar Hydroelectric Project in the Kishtwar district has also seen its completion timeline extended. Sanctioned in May 2022 at an estimated cost of ₹4,526 crore, the project was originally scheduled to be commissioned by November 2026. However, its completion has now been rescheduled to March 2028.Likewise, the 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project, being developed on the Chenab River in Kishtwar district at an estimated cost of ₹5,281.94 crore, has also experienced delays due to prolonged litigation and execution-related challenges. The project is being executed by the Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd (RHPCL), a company jointly promoted by NHPC Ltd and the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Ltd (JKSPDCL), with equity participation of 51 per cent and 49 per cent, respectively. Originally scheduled for completion in 2026, it is now expected to be commissioned in 2028.Political analyst Shahnawaz Hussain said the pace of work on hydropower projects has accelerated following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).“Due to the constraints imposed by the Indus Waters Treaty, several hydropower projects on the Chenab were either delayed or shelved. However, work on these projects has now resumed and is being fast-tracked,” he said.Together, the Kiru (624 MW), Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Kwar (540 MW) and Ratle (850 MW) projects will add 3,014 MW of hydropower generation capacity to Jammu and Kashmir.Besides enhancing power generation, the projects are expected to improve the region’s energy security and reduce dependence on electricity imports from the northern grid.Published on June 30, 2026
