Electrifying J&K: LG Manoj Sinha Approves Rs 5,300 Crore 850 MW Ratle Hydropower Project On Chenab River

In a positive development, led by Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha, the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) administration has approved the construction of 850 megawatts (MW) Ratle hydroelectric project in a joint venture formation between the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and JK Power Development Corporation (JKPDC), reports Times of India.

The run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station will be executed at a cost of Rs 5,300 crore expectedly within 36 months from the start of work. The project will come up on Chenab river near Drabshalla in Kishtwar district.

Furthermore, JKPDC's equity contribution to the project which will be executed in a partnership with NTPC will be provided as a grant by the Government of India. This grant has been pegged at Rs 776.44 crore.

This comes as a major boost for J&K, where 1,000 MW Pakal Dul hydroelectric project and 624 MW Kiru hydroelectric project are also under implementation. Both of these projects are being executed by Chenab Valley Power Project Private Limited (CVPPL).

The Union Territory (UT) has over 20,000 MW of hydroelectricity power generation potential, of which over 16,000 MW has already been identified.