Introduction

In a significant development in India’s hydropower and strategic policy landscape, a panel under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has approved the 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-2 Hydropower Project on the Chenab River in the Kishtwar district of Jammu & Kashmir. The approval was granted during the 45th meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) on hydel projects.

The decision comes at a geopolitically sensitive time, as India has suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan on April 23, 2025, following the Pahalgam terror attack. This suspension marks one of the most consequential shifts in India’s water diplomacy in decades, and it opens the door for India to develop several hydropower projects that were earlier bound by IWT regulations.

2. Background: Indus Waters Treaty & Changing Geopolitics

Indus Waters Treaty (1960) Overview

Under the IWT,

• India had unrestricted rights over the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, Sutlej.
• Pakistan had rights over the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, Chenab — though India could build run-of-the-river (RoR) hydropower projects with certain restrictions.

For decades, India complied with the treaty even during wars and cross-border tensions. However, the 2025 suspension fundamentally alters the hydrological and strategic equation.

Why the Treaty Suspension Matters

With IWT suspended:

• India gains greater autonomy to develop hydropower projects on Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus.
• Pakistan loses its right to object to India’s western-river projects.
• India can use water more flexibly for strategic, energy, and developmental purposes.

Against this backdrop, the clearance of Dulhasti Stage-2 indicates India’s commitment to enhance hydropower potential in the western Himalayan region.

3. About the Dulhasti Stage-2 Hydropower Project

Project Overview

• Capacity: 260 MW
• Location: Chenab River, Kishtwar district, J&K
• Estimated Cost: Over ₹3,200 crore
• Type: Run-of-the-River Project
• Agency: National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC)

Connection with Dulhasti Stage-1

• Dulhasti Stage-2 is an expansion of the 390 MW Dulhasti Stage-1 project, operational since 2007. Stage-1 has a strong performance record, making Stage-2 a logical infrastructural extension for optimizing river flow and power output.

Engineering Design

According to EAC’s minutes:

• A 3,685-metre-long tunnel (8.5 m diameter) will divert water from Stage-1 to Stage-2.
• A horseshoe-shaped pondage will regulate water for optimized electricity generation.
• The project requires 60.3 hectares of land, including 8.27 hectares of private land from two villages in Kishtwar.

The careful engineering ensures minimal ecological footprint while maximizing hydropower output.

4. Environmental & Regulatory Significance

The Chenab basin is ecologically sensitive, fragile, and prone to landslides.

Therefore, the approval highlights:

• Detailed environmental scrutiny
• Impact assessment on river ecology
• Sustainable engineering considerations

The EAC specifically noted that project parameters were originally designed to comply with IWT norms, but with the treaty now suspended, the project can progress without treaty-related constraints.

5. Strategic Importance for India

A. Enhancement of Hydropower Capacity: India is accelerating hydropower generation to meet clean energy targets and reduce fossil fuel dependence. Projects like Dulhasti Stage-2 strengthen India’s renewable energy capacity and grid stability.

B. Strengthening India’s Position in the Indus Basin

• With the suspension of the IWT, India is pushing forward multiple hydropower projects in the basin, including Ratle, Sawalkote, Pakal Dul, Kiru, Kwar, Bursar, Kirthai I & II.
• Dulhasti Stage-2 becomes part of this broader strategic infrastructure consolidation.

C. Regional Development in Jammu & Kashmir

Hydropower projects bring:

• Employment
• Infrastructure development
• Improved electricity reliability
• Revenue generation for the region

Kishtwar, already emerging as the “Hydropower Capital of North India,” will benefit significantly.

Conclusion

The approval of the 260 MW Dulhasti Stage-2 Hydropower Project marks a pivotal moment in India’s hydropower expansion and regional strategy. It reflects:

• India’s shift toward greater autonomy in managing western river waters,
• Stronger renewable energy push,
• Strategic recalibration post-suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, and
• Targeted promotion of economic development in J&K.
• As India advances multiple hydropower projects in the Indus basin, Dulhasti Stage-2 stands out as a symbol of strengthened national resolve, ecological balancing, and long-term strategic planning.