Dulhasti Stage-II HEP A New Dawn for Kishtwar

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Dulhasti Stage-II HEP

A New Dawn for Kishtwar

“With financial bids opened, Dulhasti Stage-II marks a new phase of development in J&K. The project promises clean energy, jobs, infrastructure and climate-conscious execution.”

Peerzada Mohsin Shafi



F

or decades, the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir has symbolized power, progress and development, yet much of its potential remained untapped. Today, the river is already a hub of hydropower, with several projects commissioned and others under construction, including Kiru HEP, Kwar HEP, Rattle HEP and Pakal Dul HEP. With the opening of financial bids for Dulhasti Stage-II on January 13, 2026, the Chenab is poised to deliver even more clean energy, jobs and infrastructure to the region. For the people of Kishtwar and surrounding areas, this milestone brings renewed hope. Yet the Chenab also serves as a cautionary reminder. Recent cloud bursts in Kishtwar triggered sudden floods and landslides, underscoring the fragility of Himalayan rivers and the need for careful, climate-sensitive planning at every stage of development.

Dulhasti Stage-II is the planned extension of the Dulhasti Stage-I Power Station, commissioned by NHPC Ltd. in 2007. Stage-I, a 390 MW run-of-the-river scheme with pondage, has operated successfully for nearly two decades, proving both technical feasibility and reliability. Stage-II, designed for 260 MW with two 130 MW units, was envisioned in the original DPR of Stage-I to harness additional energy from the same river stretch without building a new large dam. This approach ensures minimal surface disruption while maximizing power output from a proven site, making it a strategic, sustainable step forward for hydropower development in the Chenab basin.

The project is located on the Chenab River in Kishtwar district, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The dam will be near village Dul, 450 metres downstream of the confluence of Amni Nallah with the Chenab. The underground powerhouse is planned on the left bank near Benzwar village.  Strategically, Dulhasti Stage-II will integrate with other hydropower projects in the Chenab basin. Water from the 1000 MW Pakal Dul Hydro Electric Project on the Marusudar River will be diverted into the Dulhasti reservoir after passing through Pakal Dul’s powerhouse, contributing a design discharge of 277 cubic metres per second. In practical terms, the same water will generate electricity more than once, reflecting a cascading approach that maximizes resource efficiency and strengthens regional renewable energy capacity.

After years of waiting, the financial bidding stage was reached. NHPC floated the tender for civil works under Lot 1, valued at ₹1018.44 crore with a construction period of 1340 days. The tender was published on 30 May 2025 and the financial bids opened on 13 January 2026. Four companies participated viz Max Infra Limited emerged as the lowest bidder at ₹882 crore, followed by Patel Infra at ₹990 crore and MEIL at ₹1065 crore, while Rithwik Projects was declared non-responsive. Mega projects rarely reach this stage after years of delay, and this milestone signals that execution may finally move forward. The hope is that the Letter of Award will be issued to the L1 bidder in the coming months, allowing Dulhasti Stage-II to finally enter the construction phase, unlike past infrastructure projects such as Vailoo, Singhpora, and Sudhmahadev Dranga Tunnels, where tenders and even financial bids were opened but later cancelled.

Environmental clearance for Dulhasti Stage-II has been granted, following scoping and detailed impact studies under the EIA Notification 2006. The project requires a total of 60.3 hectares, including 8.27 hectares of private land affecting 62 families and 40.93 hectares of state land, with 11.1 hectares from the operational Stage-I infrastructure. No forest land is involved, and mitigation measures have been prescribed to address impacts on land, water, communities and ecology.

Safety is a major consideration, particularly in a region susceptible to cloud bursts and flash floods. Dam break analyses using hydrodynamic simulations were conducted for extreme floods with the dam at full reservoir level and for virgin river conditions. Downstream areas vulnerable to flooding were mapped over a 33.42 km stretch up to the Rattle dam site, identifying partially affected villages such as Merut, Bander Koot, Nilsar, Satarbaggi, Gohle, Koriye, Puitnag, Bachi, Chattar, Bhandera on the right bank, and Dul, Banzwar, Bindraban, Jarwari, and Kandni on the left bank. Flood waves in steep terrain could peak within an hour, leaving limited response time. The Disaster Management Plan, costing ₹1.75 crore, emphasizes early warning systems, preventive measures and community training to minimize risks. The recent Kishtwar and Ramban cloud bursts underscore the importance of this planning.

The project promises substantial benefits. During construction, it will generate employment for local youth, skilled workers, transporters, and ancillary businesses. Once operational, it will add 260 MW of clean energy to the grid, improving electricity availability, reducing fossil fuel dependency and supporting industrial and economic growth. Cascading use of water from Pakal Dul demonstrates efficient resource management, maximizing electricity output from the same water. Dulhasti Stage-II is more than a regional project; it has the potential to be a game changer for Jammu and Kashmir and India. For J&K, it represents a boost to local power availability, infrastructure development and employment.

For India, it contributes to national renewable energy targets, reduces fossil fuel dependency, and demonstrates efficient Himalayan hydropower development through cascading projects. If executed properly, it could become a model for balancing energy needs with ecological and social safeguards. Yet, challenges remain. Himalayan terrain is fragile, and construction in steep, seismic-prone areas carries risks including landslides, slope instability, and sedimentation in tunnels. Climate change may increase extreme weather events, testing dam and structural resilience. While land acquisition is limited, even 62 families must be resettled with transparency. Execution will require monitoring, adherence to safety protocols, and disaster preparedness to ensure benefits do not come at the cost of human or ecological harm.

In conclusion, Dulhasti Stage-II is more than a hydroelectric project. It is a symbol of potential, ambition and the delicate balancing act of sustainable development in the Himalayas. For local communities, it promises jobs, clean electricity and infrastructure improvements. For policymakers, engineers, and environmentalists, it represents a test of technical skill, planning, and disaster management. With the LOA expected to be issued to the L1 bidder in the coming months, there is genuine hope that the project will finally move into full-scale construction. If carried out with care, transparency, and sensitivity toward environmental, social, and climatic factors, Dulhasti Stage-II could indeed become a game changer for the region and the country. But the Chenab and the mountains will not forgive shortcuts. Every tunnel, surge shaft, and powerhouse cavern must be built respecting the river’s power and the region’s vulnerability. Only then can this ambitious hydroelectric endeavor fulfil its promise, powering the future while safeguarding the present.

 

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