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FAC clears forest diversion for Sawalkote hydro project in J&K

Author: PPD Team Date: 08/07/2025

The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has granted in-principle approval to divert 847.17 hectares of forest land in Jammu & Kashmir for the Sawalkote Hydro Electric Project. The land spans across the Udhampur, Mahore, Batote, and Ramban forest divisions.

The 1,856 MW project will be built on the Chenab river in the Ramban district. It is being developed by NHPC Limited on a build, own, operate, and transfer (BOOT) basis for 40 years. The estimated investment is Rs 190.2 billion.

The project was originally planned by the Jammu & Kashmir State Power Development Corporation Limited (JKSPDC) at 1,200 MW and Rs 105 billion. The revised design includes a larger capacity and a new implementation structure, with NHPC taking over execution.

About Rs 100 billion will be raised through loans, while the remaining funding will come from financial institutions.

Sawalkote will be developed as a run-of-river (RoR) project in two stages, executed in parallel. Stage I will include six generating units of 225 MW each in the main plant and one 56 MW auxiliary unit. Stage II will include two additional 225 MW units.

Key civil works include three horse-shoe shaped diversion tunnels (13.5 m x 19 m), an earth and rock fill coffer dam, and seven spillways (11 m wide and 16.5 m high). Two intakes will be built for Stage I and one for Stage II.

The power will be transported through two headrace tunnels (HRTs) for Stage I and one for Stage II, followed by six steel-lined pressure shafts for Stage I and two for Stage II.

A 193-metre high concrete gravity roller-compacted dam will be constructed from the deepest foundation on the river’s left bank. An underground powerhouse will house eight 225 MW units.

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