The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation has floated a ₹5,129 crore tender for civil construction works related to the 1,856 MW Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district.
The development follows India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty in April 2025 and reflects a renewed push to harness the hydropower potential of the Chenab River.
The tender covers construction of diversion tunnels, adits, coffer dams, access tunnels, roads, associated dam works, and hydro-mechanical components.
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The project is scheduled for completion within 108 months.
Originally proposed in 1984, the Sawalkot project remained stalled for decades due to environmental clearances and rehabilitation-related challenges.
Following the treaty suspension, the government has accelerated progress on the project, citing its strategic and energy security importance, particularly with respect to India’s rights over the western rivers.
The project is designed as a run-of-the-river hydroelectric scheme featuring a 192.5 metre high roller-compacted concrete gravity dam.
Once commissioned, it is expected to generate around 7,534 million units of electricity annually, contributing significantly to regional power availability and grid stability.
Environmental concerns have been raised regarding potential ecological impacts, including submergence of villages and forest loss.
The government, however, has maintained that statutory norms are being followed and that the project is essential for long-term regional development and national energy objectives.
