Dul Hasti Hydroelectric Project
Why In News?
On March 9, 2026 The Ministry of Power informed the Rajya Sabha that the NHPC Board of Directors accorded formal investment approval for the 260 MW Dulhasti Stage-II project.
Key Information
- Location: Situated on the Chenab River in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Project Stages:
- Stage-I (Operational): A 390 MW (3 x 130 MW) run-of-the-river plant commissioned in 2007.
- Stage-II (Upcoming): An extension adding 260 MW (2 x 130 MW) of capacity, bringing the total complex to 650 MW.
- Developer: Owned and operated by NHPC Limited on a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) basis.
- Innovative Design: Stage-II will not require a new dam; it will utilize the existing dam, reservoir, and intake infrastructure of Stage-I.
- Water Sourcing: It will draw additional water from the Marusudar River (a major tributary of the Chenab) through the Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Project linkage.
- Infrastructure: Includes a new 3.7 km long headrace tunnel (8.5m diameter) and an underground powerhouse.
- Beneficiaries: Generated power is supplied to the Northern Grid, benefiting Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi.
- Geopolitical Context: As a run-of-the-river project, it is designed to comply with international water-sharing norms while asserting India's rights to utilize western river waters for energy.
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