Construction of Dam Set to Expedite
The Ratle Hydro Electric Project has achieved a significant milestone with the successful diversion of the Chenab River through tunnels at Drabshalla in Kishtwar district.
This river diversion will allow for the isolation of the dam area, enabling the critical activities of excavation and construction to begin. The completion of this milestone will expedite the project construction and help to minimize delays, ensuring that the project meets its scheduled commissioning date of May 2026.
The River Diversion ceremony was inaugurated by CMD, NHPC R.K. Vishnoi and witnessed by several officials, including the Principal Secretary (PDD), J&K, H. Rajesh Prasad; Chairman, RHPCL, I. D. Dayal; MD, JKSPDC, Pankaj Mangotra; Directors of NHPC; CEO, RHPCL, A.K. Nauriyal, and other officials from NHPC and the J&K government.
The Ratle Project is being executed by Ratle Hydroelectric Power Corporation Limited (RHPCL), a Joint Venture of NHPC Limited and the government of J&K. It has an installed capacity of 850 MW and is located on the River Chenab in Kishtwar District of J&K. The project was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in January 2021, with a total cost of Rs. 5281.94 crores.
To support the project, the government of India is providing a grant of Rs. 776.44 crore for the equity contribution of JKSPDC in the Joint Venture Company. NHPC will invest its equity of Rs. 808.14 crore from its internal resources. The project is expected to be commissioned within 60 months and will help improve the power supply position and provide balancing of the grid.
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will also benefit from the project through direct and indirect employment opportunities for around 4000 people. Additionally, the Union Territory will receive free power worth Rs. 5289 crore and levies of Water Usage Charges worth Rs. 9581 crore over the project’s 40-year lifecycle.
