J&K Hydro Power Project Gets Initial Approval.

A significant step has been taken towards bolstering India's hydropower capacity, with an Environment Ministry panel granting "in-principle" approval for the diversion of over 847 hectares of reserved forest and 'jungle-jhari' land for the construction of the 1,856 MW Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project. This ambitious project is slated for the Ramban district of Jammu & Kashmir.

While final approval remains contingent on the grant of environmental clearance by the J&K government, this move signals a clear intent to harness the untapped potential of the Chenab River. The decision comes particularly into focus following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan.

Currently, the waters of the Chenab River flow largely unutilized into Pakistan, despite India's established right to use them for non-consumptive purposes like power generation. The Sawalkot project aims to rectify this, converting a significant natural resource into a source of clean energy. The "in-principle" approval suggests that the project is highly likely to proceed, marking a strategic shift in water resource utilization in the region.