Revival and Clearance of Sawalkote Hydropower Project: UPSC Current Affairs Story Arc

Overview

The Sawalkote Hydropower Project is a massive run-of-the-river initiative located in the Ramban and Udhampur districts of Jammu and Kashmir. Initially proposed in 1984, the project faced decades of delays due to geopolitical sensitivities regarding the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) and environmental hurdles. In late 2025, the Indian government fast-tracked its revival, leading to a critical appraisal by the Ministry of Environment's Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) and the subsequent grant of a fresh environmental clearance. Executed by NHPC Ltd, the project is a cornerstone of India's strategy to harness the hydropower potential of the 'Western Rivers' (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) while navigating complex bilateral water-sharing frameworks with Pakistan.

How This Story Evolved

Project revival announced → Expert panel appraisal scheduled → Environmental clearance granted

1. 2025-08-04: India revives Sawalkote Hydropower Project on Chenab River
   More details

   UPSC Angle: India revives Sawalkote Hydropower Project on Chenab River.

   Key Facts:

   • 2,185 MW Sawalkote Hydropower Project on Chenab River
   • Located in Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir
   • Estimated cost: ₹22,704 crore
   • Expected to generate over 7,000 million units of electricity annually
   • Sawalkote Hydropower Project is a 2,185 MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric plant proposed on the Chenab River in the Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir.
   • The project will be executed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDC).
   • Estimated cost is ₹22,704 crore.
   • The project would feature a 5-metre roller-compacted concrete gravity dam.
   • It is expected to generate over 7,000 million units of electricity annually.
2. 2025-09-22: Centre panel to weigh clearance for Sawalkote dam on Chenab this week
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Sawalkote dam project on Chenab River and Indus Waters Treaty.

   Key Facts:

   • The Sawalkote Project is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power project on the Chenab River.
   • Located in the Ramban and Udhampur districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
   • Implemented by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
   • The Environment Ministry's expert panel will appraise NHPC's 1,865 MW Sawalkote dam project.
   • The Environment Ministry will appraise the Sawalkote dam project.
   • The Sawalkote dam is on the Chenab River.
   • The project's capacity is 1,865 MW.
   • NHPC is the project developer.
   • The Indus Waters Treaty is now in abeyance.
3. 2025-10-11: Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Environment Ministry accorded fresh environmental clearance to Sawalkote hydroelectric project.

   Key Facts:

   • Location: Chenab River, Jammu and Kashmir
   • Developer: National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC)
   • Proposed capacity: 1,856 MW
   • First proposed: 1984
   • Initial environmental clearance: 2017
   • NHPC took charge in 2021
   • RCC gravity dam height: 192.5 meters
   • सवालकोट (Sawalkot) Hydel Project on Chenab River received final clearance in 2025.
   • Located in Jammu and Kashmir, Ramban District.
   • Run of the river project.
   • Electricity generation: 1856 MW.
   • Implemented by NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation).

Genesis

Trigger

On August 4, 2025, the Indian government officially moved to revive the stalled project, citing a strategic need to tap the Chenab's 2,185 MW potential (later revised to 1,856 MW for clearance).

Why Now

The revival aligns with India's broader policy of fully utilizing its rights under the Indus Waters Treaty and the recent shift in stance where the treaty is described as being 'in abeyance' or under notice for modification.

Historical Context

The project was first envisioned in 1984. Although it received an initial environmental clearance in 2017, construction did not commence, necessitating a fresh appraisal in 2025 to meet updated environmental standards.

Key Turning Points

1. [2025-08-04] Official announcement of Sawalkote revival by the Government of India

   Ended years of speculation and signaled a strategic priority for Jammu and Kashmir's energy security.

   Before this: The project was a 'stalled' legacy item. After this: It became a live infrastructure priority with a ₹22,704 crore estimate.

2. [2025-10-11] Grant of fresh Environmental Clearance (EC)

   The final regulatory hurdle before ground-breaking; updates the project's compliance from the outdated 2017 clearance.

   Before this: Legal and environmental validity was in question. After this: NHPC has a green signal to start construction.

Key Actors and Institutions

Key Institutions

• National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC)
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
• Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC)
• Permanent Indus Commission (PIC)

Key Concepts

Run-of-the-river (RoR) Project

A type of hydroelectric generation where little or no water storage is provided, using the flow of the river to generate electricity while adhering to water-sharing treaty constraints.

Current Fact: Sawalkote is specifically designed as a 1,856 MW run-of-the-river plant on the Chenab River.

Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) - Western Rivers

A 1960 treaty giving Pakistan rights over the 'Western Rivers' (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), while allowing India limited use for domestic, non-consumptive, and hydropower purposes.

Current Fact: The project was held back for years due to IWT sensitivities but is now being used to maximize India's permitted usage on the Chenab.

Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC)

A multidisciplinary sectoral committee at the central level that evaluates the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of 'Category A' projects.

Current Fact: The EAC appraised the Sawalkote project during the week of September 22, 2025.

What Happens Next

Current Status

As of October 11, 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has accorded a fresh environmental clearance to the 1,856 MW project.

Likely Next

Commencement of civil works by NHPC Ltd and JKSPDC, likely involving international or domestic competitive bidding for turbine sets and dam construction.

Wildcards

Pakistani objections at the Permanent Indus Commission or the World Bank; potential local rehabilitation protests in the Ramban/Udhampur districts; or seismic activity in the Himalayan region affecting construction timelines.

Why UPSC Cares

Syllabus Topics

• Indus Waters Treaty and its implications
• Energy resources and Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc.
• Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment

Essay Angles

• The Geopolitics of Water in South Asia
• Balancing Development and Himalayan Ecology
• Energy Security as a Pillar of National Sovereignty

Prelims Likely: Yes

Mains Likely: Yes

Trend Signal: rising

Exam Intelligence

Previous Year Question Connections

• Identified Baglihar, Dulhasti, and Salal as projects on the Chenab river. — Sawalkote is the next major addition to this specific list of Chenab projects that UPSC frequently tests.
• Tested the definition of 'Western Rivers' under the Indus Waters Treaty. — The Sawalkote arc highlights India's right to build RoR projects on these Western Rivers (specifically the Chenab).
• Question on the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee and the Environment (Protection) Act. — Highlights the importance of knowing which bodies (like the EAC) function under the MoEFCC for environmental clearances.

Prelims Angles

• Location: Chenab River in Ramban and Udhampur districts (not just one district).
• Nature: Run-of-the-river (RoR) vs. storage-based dams.
• Institutions: NHPC (Central) collaborating with JKSPDC (State).
• River Geography: Chenab is formed by the confluence of Chandra and Bhaga rivers at Tandi.
• Capacity: 1,856 MW (Latest cleared figure).

Mains Preparation

Sample Question: Critically analyze the strategic and economic significance of the Sawalkote Hydropower Project in the context of India's rights under the Indus Waters Treaty and its commitment to renewable energy.

Answer Structure: Intro: Define Sawalkote and its location on the Chenab. → Strategic Significance: Full utilization of IWT Western Rivers; leverage in bilateral relations. → Economic Significance: 7,000+ million units of electricity for J&K and the Northern Grid. → Challenges: Environmental impact in seismic zones; Pakistan's potential legal challenges. → Conclusion: Way forward for sustainable Himalayan development.

Essay Topic: Rivers as Lifelines and Faultlines: The South Asian Water Paradox.

Textbook Connections

Key Takeaway

The Sawalkote project's 2025 revival marks a decisive shift in India's hydro-diplomacy, transitioning from decades of treaty-induced caution to an assertive utilization of its rights on the Chenab River.

All Events in This Story (3 items)

1. 2025-08-04 [Geography] — India revives Sawalkote Hydropower Project on Chenab River
   India is moving to revive the long-stalled Sawalkote Hydropower Project on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, a 2,185 MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric plant. First envisioned six decades ago but held back by the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, this project is estimated to cost ₹22,704 crore and will be executed by NHPC Ltd in collaboration with JKSPDC.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: India revives Sawalkote Hydropower Project on Chenab River.

   Key Facts:

   • 2,185 MW Sawalkote Hydropower Project on Chenab River
   • Located in Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir
   • Estimated cost: ₹22,704 crore
   • Expected to generate over 7,000 million units of electricity annually
   • Sawalkote Hydropower Project is a 2,185 MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric plant proposed on the Chenab River in the Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir.
   • The project will be executed by National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) Ltd in collaboration with Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDC).
   • Estimated cost is ₹22,704 crore.
   • The project would feature a 5-metre roller-compacted concrete gravity dam.
   • It is expected to generate over 7,000 million units of electricity annually.
2. 2025-09-22 [Geography] — Centre panel to weigh clearance for Sawalkote dam on Chenab this week
   The stalled Sawalkote dam on the Chenab, a river which is part of the Indus system, in Jammu and Kashmir, is back at the centre of India's strategy to tap the river's hydropower potential. With the Indus Waters Treaty now in abeyance, the Environment Ministry's expert panel will this week appraise NHPC's 1,865 MW project, one of the largest on a western river, for grant of environmental clearance, according to official documents.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Sawalkote dam project on Chenab River and Indus Waters Treaty.

   Key Facts:

   • The Sawalkote Project is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power project on the Chenab River.
   • Located in the Ramban and Udhampur districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
   • Implemented by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
   • The Environment Ministry's expert panel will appraise NHPC's 1,865 MW Sawalkote dam project.
   • The Environment Ministry will appraise the Sawalkote dam project.
   • The Sawalkote dam is on the Chenab River.
   • The project's capacity is 1,865 MW.
   • NHPC is the project developer.
   • The Indus Waters Treaty is now in abeyance.
3. 2025-10-11 [Environment & Ecology] — Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project
   The Environment Ministry has accorded a fresh environmental clearance to the Sawalkote hydroelectric project, a run-of-the-river hydroelectric initiative located on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir. Developed by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), it is poised to become one of India's largest hydroelectric projects in the Indus basin, with a proposed capacity of 1,856 MW. The project was first proposed in 1984 and received initial environmental clearance in 2017.
   More details

   UPSC Angle: Environment Ministry accorded fresh environmental clearance to Sawalkote hydroelectric project.

   Key Facts:

   • Location: Chenab River, Jammu and Kashmir
   • Developer: National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC)
   • Proposed capacity: 1,856 MW
   • First proposed: 1984
   • Initial environmental clearance: 2017
   • NHPC took charge in 2021
   • RCC gravity dam height: 192.5 meters
   • सवालकोट (Sawalkot) Hydel Project on Chenab River received final clearance in 2025.
   • Located in Jammu and Kashmir, Ramban District.
   • Run of the river project.
   • Electricity generation: 1856 MW.
   • Implemented by NHPC (National Hydroelectric Power Corporation).