J&K Operates 32 Hydropower Projects 6 Under Construction, 8 More Planned, Govt Tells Assembly

J&K, Feb 09 : The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly that the Union Territory currently operates 32 hydropower projects with a combined installed capacity of 3,540.15 MW.

In a written reply to a starred question by MLA Khurshied Ahmad, the Minister in charge of the Power Development Department said the operational capacity is spread across multiple sectors. Thirteen projects generating 1,197 MW fall under the Central sector, six projects with a capacity of 2,250 MW belong to the State sector, and another 13 projects producing 72.75 MW are run by Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

The government added that power generation in the region is expected to expand significantly, with 3,704.5 MW of additional capacity projected from eight hydropower projects that are either proposed or under construction between 2026-27 and 2030-31.

Addressing a separate query on the 40 MW Ans (Nandoli) Hydroelectric Project in Gulabgarh constituency, officials said the project was tendered in 2011–12 and allotted in November 2012, followed by the signing of an implementation agreement in March 2013.

However, progress has been stalled due to continued non-performance by the IPP. A notice of default was issued in August 2025, after which the developer submitted the Detailed Project Report along with financial estimates.

The assessment concluded that the project would require a 40-year levelised tariff of ₹7.30 per unit, making it technically and economically unviable under current market conditions. The developer has since sought to withdraw from the project and requested a refund of the deposited premium, citing external and policy-related challenges.

The matter is presently under review by the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation in line with the implementation agreement and the Hydro Electric Power Policy, 2011.