Jammu, March 27, 2026 : Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday announced an ambitious roadmap to triple Jammu and Kashmir’s hydropower capacity to around 11,000 MW by 2035, positioning the Union Territory as a major energy hub.
Hydropower Potential & Current Status
- 🌊 Estimated potential: 18,000 MW
- ⚙️ Identified potential: 15,000 MW
- 🔌 Harnessed so far: 3,540.15 MW (≈24%)
Breakup of Existing Capacity
- 🏛️ UT Sector: 1,197.4 MW (13 projects)
- 🇮🇳 Central Sector: 2,250 MW (6 projects)
- 🏢 Private Sector (IPP): 92.75 MW (12 projects)
Major projects include:
- Baglihar I & II (450 MW each)
- Salal (690 MW)
- Uri-I & Uri-II (480 MW & 240 MW)
- Dulhasti (390 MW)
- Kishenganga (330 MW)
- Lower Jhelum (105 MW)
Roadmap to 2035
The government has outlined a multi-phase expansion plan:
- 🚧 3,063.5 MW from 6 under-construction projects
- 📑 4,507 MW from 8 projects in pipeline (tendering/DPR/clearances)
- ⚡ 100–150 MW expected from private sector
👉 Projected total capacity by 2035: ~11,000 MW
Strategic Push
The CM highlighted that:
- Work on projects has accelerated significantly
- New storage-based hydro projects are being explored
- Efforts are underway to fully utilise the region’s vast water resources
Why It Matters
- 🔋 Boost to energy self-sufficiency
- 💼 Generation of employment and investment
- 🌱 Promotion of clean and renewable energy
- 📈 Strengthening regional economic growth
The initiative marks a major step towards transforming Jammu and Kashmir into a power surplus region in the coming decade.
