New Delhi, Mar 14: The Centre has started identifying sites in Jammu and Kashmir for new hydropower projects while also examining proposals to divert water from the region to northern states, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said.
In an interview, Khattar said several hydropower plants in the Union Territory are already operational, while efforts are underway to restore reservoir capacity through desilting. Work has also resumed on three to four projects that were earlier stalled, and additional sites are being assessed for future development.
The minister said the government is also studying proposals to divert water from the region towards Punjab and further to Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi through canals or tunnels. According to him, two or three possible routes are under evaluation. One alignment proposed through Jammu city may not be feasible, while another route bypassing the city is currently being assessed for financial and technical viability.
The initiative comes amid broader efforts by the Centre to strengthen power infrastructure and meet rising electricity demand.
Khattar said the government is expanding power generation capacity with greater emphasis on renewable energy, particularly solar power, while also working on storage solutions to ensure round-the-clock supply. Nuclear energy is expected to play a larger role in the future energy mix, with the country aiming to scale up capacity to about 100 GW by 2047.
Thermal power projects of around 20,000 MW are also under development to maintain grid stability as the country moves towards its net-zero emissions target by 2070.
