Ratle, Kawar lag behind with less than 25% work completed
*Four projects to add 3000 MW to generation capacity
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 12: The construction work on two of Jammu and Kashmir’s key hydroelectric projects— Pakal Dul and Kiru is moving at a steady pace with over two-thirds of the project work completed, while two other major ventures Ratle and Kawar are lagging far behind, having achieved less than one-fourth of the physical progress.
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As per the official document of the Government of India reflecting progress as on August 2025, 1000 Mega Watt Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project (HEP) has recorded 72% overall progress while as 624 Mega Watt Kiru Hydroelectric Project has achieved approximately 68% completion.
Pakal Dul project, which was approved in February 2018, was initially supposed to be completed in April 2020 but now the revised date of completion is December 2026. This project has registered cumulative expenditure of Rs 7238.73 crore against the revised cost of Rs 12728 crore.
Likewise, Kiru project was approved in March 2019 and originally it was targeted to be completed in September 2023. However, the revised date of completion is December 2026. In respect of this project, an expenditure of Rs 3157.49 crore has been registered against revised cost of Rs 5409 crore.
Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project is being constructed on river Marusudar, a tributary of river Chenab in district Kishtwar and the project envisages construction of a 167 m high dam, an underground power house with 4 units of 250 MW each.
Kiru project, also a run-of-river scheme, is being constructed on river Chenab in district Kishtwar and the project envisages construction of 135 m high dam and an underground power house with 4 units of 156 MW each.
Both projects are considered vital components of the Government of India’s broader plan to harness the hydroelectric potential of the Chenab basin. Officials said, “the pace of work at Pakal Dul and Kiru has remained consistent despite topographical challenges and climatic constraints”.
However, the progress in respect of the Ratle Hydroelectric Project (850 MW) and Kawar Hydroelectric Project (540 MW) tells a different story. The document shows that the physical progress of both these projects has not even touched 25% as of August 2025, raising concerns over project timelines and cost escalation.
The Ratle Project, also located in Kishtwar district, has faced multiple delays owing to contractual disputes, land-related issues and environmental clearances in the initial stages. Though construction activities have picked up in recent months, the work remains significantly behind schedule.
This project was approved in February 2021 and originally date of completion was February 2026. However, the completion date has been revised as August 2028. On this project, an expenditure of Rs 1009 crore has been registered against the revised cost of Rs 5281 crore.
Similarly, the Kawar Project, another ambitious undertaking on the Chenab River, continues to remain in the early stages of development with limited progress on major civil structures. Insiders attribute the slow pace to “logistical constraints, delayed mobilization of resources and prolonged technical evaluations”.
Approved in May 2022, this project was initially targeted to be completed in November 2026. However, the date of completion has been revised and fixed as March 2028. This project has registered expenditure of Rs 1119 crore against revised cost of Rs 4526 crore.
These four projects are part of the Chenab Valley Power Projects cluster and together are expected to add more than 3,000 MW to the region’s generation capacity upon completion. These projects are crucial for ensuring energy self-sufficiency for Jammu and Kashmir and contributing to the national energy goals.
As per the official sources, regular monitoring is being undertaken to expedite execution, particularly for the lagging projects. “Periodic reviews are being held at both the Central and UT levels to address the bottlenecks and ensure timely delivery,” they added.
“With the Government of India’s document laying bare the varying pace of progress across these strategically significant projects, there is growing pressure on the implementing agencies to accelerate work especially on Ratle and Kawar to prevent further delays and financial overruns”, they further said, adding “if the current pace is maintained, Pakal Dul and Kiru are likely to be completed within the revised date of completion while Ratle and Kawar may require substantial push to meet their revised timelines”.
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