Hydroelectric Power Plants in Jammu And Kashmir

Electricity is the essential source of commercial energy. It is the key source to give support for profitable growth. A rise in demand for power indicates the growth of a state’s economy and development, leading to transformation, urbanisation, industrialisation, and improvement in basic facilities. Jammu and Kashmir state is equipped with a significant amount of hydel potential, which can be utilised to develop the form and grow its economy. Development of this potential would need so many things like technical experts, prominent resources, a compatible environment, administrative reforms, proper management and controls. 

The prime utilisation of available hydel potential in Jammu and Kashmir satisfies the internal demand. It provides a power supply to the northern grid to enhance the growth and development of the state. The Jammu and Kashmir state’s hydropower potential is approximately twenty thousand (20,000) Megawatts (MW). This is accompanied by 11290 (MW) in Chenab valley, 1610 (MW) in Indus valley, 3083 (MW) in Jhelum valley and 503 (MW) in Ravi valley. About 20 % of the known hydel potential has been exploited so far.

Baglihar Power Project 

The benefits of a hydroelectric project are well known to the world. The Jammu and Kashmir state contains several mountains, perennial streams and rivers. The Baglihar Dam or the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project was built in the Ramban district in Jammu and Kashmir on the Chenab River. The hydroelectric power project at Baglihar dam was conceived in 1992, approved in 1996 and construction for this project began in 1999. The Baglihar Hydroelectric Project or Baglihar dam is divided into two stages. Stage-I was commissioned in 2008, and stage II is still under construction. The main reason for this mega Baglihar hydroelectric power project on the Baglihar dam to be in controversy is the objections imposed by Pakistan. Pakistan says that this project violates the Indus Water Treaty and that India had decreased the water flow to fill up the Baglihar dam lake. There is a massive decline in Pakistan’s water supply for farming and agriculture. On the other side, India says that the decline of water in the Chenab river of Jammu and Kashmir is due to significantly less water availability. The objection raised by Pakistan resulted in the transfer of the Baglihar dam project to the World Bank-appointed experts.

Ratle Hydroelectric Plant

Ratle is an 850 MW Hydroelectric Plant constructed on the Chenab River; it is located down the village near the river Chenab in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. This project contains a height of 133 metres, an approximately 436 feet tall dam and two power stations close to one another. Water from the dam is drawn out with the help of four intake tunnels. The prime power station comprises four 205 megawatt Francis turbines, and the additional power station will comprise one 30 megawatts Francis turbine. The power capacity of both the power stations is around 850 megawatt. The project also includes the construction of a concrete dam, diversion tunnels, a reservoir, spillways and a powerhouse. This will be situated downstream of the 390MW Dulhasti project and upstream of the 450 MW Baglihar project. 

Dul hasti Hydroelectric Plant

Dul hasti hydroelectric power plant is a 390-megawatt hydroelectric power plant situated in the district Kishtwar of Jammu & Kashmir. Dulhasti hydroelectric power plant was built by the national hydroelectric power corporation (NHPC) between 1985 and 2007. The Dulhasti Hydroelectric Plant is constructed on the Chenab River, in the Kishtwar region of a rough mountainous part of the Himalayas, and more than hundreds of kilometres from greater cities. The project provided a specified power value to the Northern Grid, with recipient states being Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Chandigarh.

Conclusion

Jammu and Kashmir state is well fitted with significant hydel potential that can be utilised to develop the state and the growth of its economy. Development of this potential would need so many things like technical experts, prominent resources, a compatible environment, administrative reforms, proper management and controls. Some of the famous hydroelectric power plants in Jammu and Kashmir are; Baglihar Power Project, Ratle power project, Dulhasti hydroelectric power plant, and Chutak Hydroelectric project etc.

The Baglihar Dam or the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project was built in the Ramban district in Jammu and Kashmir on the Chenab River. Ratle Hydroelectric power plant is an 850 MW Hydroelectric Plant constructed on the Chenab River; it is located downstream of the village near the river Chenab in the district Kishtwar of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Dulhasti hydroelectric power plant is a 390-MW hydroelectric power plant. Situated in the district Kishtwar of Jammu and Kashmir, it was built by the national hydroelectric power corporation (NHPC).