India approves Dulhasti Stage-II project

The India — Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved the 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project on the Chenab river in India — Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district. This approval, granted by the Expert Appraisal Committee on hydel projects, paves the way for construction tenders for the run-of-the-river project, estimated to cost over Rs 3,200 crore. The project is an extension of the existing 390 MW Dulhasti Power Station, operated by Korea Electric Power Corporation Limited since 2007. The clearance comes after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, effective April 23, 2025, following a terror attack. With the treaty in abeyance, India is accelerating several hydroelectric projects in the Indus basin to harness hydropower potential, particularly in India — Jammu and Kashmir. The Dulhasti Stage-II project will divert water from the Stage-I power station through a new tunnel to an underground powerhouse with two 130 MW units, increasing the total installed capacity and annual energy generation. The project requires 60.3 hectares of land, including private land from two villages.