Omar Abdullah calls for hydropower policy reset to unlock 14,635 MW potential

New Delhi/Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir government is preparing a new hydropower policy aimed at removing hurdles that have slowed capacity addition, with only about a quarter of the Union Territory's identified hydropower potential commissioned so far.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday reviewed the Draft J&K Hydropower Policy 2026 and called for a focused framework to accelerate project development, increase generation capacity and strengthen the electricity sector, an official spokesman said.

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J&K has an identified hydropower potential of 14,635 MW, but only 3,540.15 MW — or 24.18 percent — has been commissioned so far across projects developed by NHPC, Jammu & Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) and private Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

The Chenab basin accounts for 11,283 MW of the identified potential, while the Jhelum basin has 3,084 MW.

The proposed policy marks an attempt to address constraints under the existing framework and establish a clearer roadmap for faster and sustainable hydropower development.

The government reviewed the experience of J&K's previous hydropower policies introduced in 2003 and 2011, including implementation challenges and lessons that could be incorporated into the 2026 framework.

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Abdullah directed that the new policy should address bottlenecks that have constrained hydropower development and create an enabling environment for future investment and faster project execution.

Institutional restructuring is also under consideration, with discussions focusing on streamlining the respective roles of JKPDC and the Jammu & Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA).

The proposed framework will also seek to balance faster capacity addition with environmental and local requirements. Officials discussed compliance with ecological flow norms and Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan provisions.

Abdullah said hydropower development must safeguard local drinking water and irrigation requirements while contributing to energy security, economic growth and balanced regional development.

He said energy self-reliance, sustainable resource management and public welfare should remain central to the new policy while creating a framework for responsible development of J&K's hydropower resources.

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