New Delhi, Dec 15 : The Union Ministry of Power has informed Parliament that NHPC Limited is currently operating six hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir with a combined installed capacity of 2,250 megawatts, while two major hydropower projects, Ratle and Pakal Dul, are under construction through joint ventures with the Jammu and Kashmir government.
In a written reply in Parliament, Minister of State for Power Shripad Naik said NHPC is operating the Salal project with a capacity of 690 MW, Uri-I with 480 MW, Dulhasti with 390 MW, Sewa-II with 120 MW, Uri-II with 240 MW, and Kishanganga with 330 MW in the Union Territory.
The minister said the 850 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Project and the 1,000 MW Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project are being implemented through joint venture companies formed between NHPC Limited and the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation.
According to the reply, the Ratle project is being executed by Ratle Hydro Power Corporation Limited, a joint venture between NHPC and JKSPDC. As of October 31, 2025, the project has achieved physical progress of about 26 percent and is scheduled for commissioning by November 2028.
The Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project, as per the news agency Kashmir News Trust is being implemented by Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited, another NHPC-JKSPDC joint venture. The project has achieved around 75 percent physical progress as of October 31, 2025, and is scheduled to be commissioned by December 2026.
The ministry further clarified that the transfer of any hydropower projects to the respective state or Union Territory government is governed by the provisions and conditions laid down in the Memorandum of Understanding or agreements executed with the state government or UT administration.
On a separate query, the minister said there is no information available with the Ministry of Power regarding a proposed thermal power project at Nichhama Rajwar in Handwara. However, he said Mineral Exploration and Consultancy Limited is carrying out lignite exploration in the Nichahom block of Kupwara district to generate reliable geological data for the possible development of the Nichahom lignite deposit.
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