Ratle HE project

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Context

The government recently announced diversion of Chenab river water through diversion tunnels at Drabshalla in Kishtwar district to expedite the 850-MW Ratle Hydro Electric Project in Jammu & Kashmir.

Details

Ratle Hydro Electric  Project

• The Ratle Hydroelectric Plant is a run-of-the-river hydroelectric power station, with permitted pondage under the Indus Water Treaty, currently under construction on the Chenab River, downstream of the village near Drabshalla in Kishtwar district of the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir .
• The project includes a 133 m (436 ft) tall gravity dam and two power stations adjacent to one another.
• The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs sanctioned the project in January 2021 at the cost of Rs 5,281.94 crore.
• The project is scheduled to commence operations in 2026. The 850MW facility is expected to generate up to 3,136 million units of electricity in a year.

Project Objectives

• The construction activities of the Project will result in direct and indirect employment to around 4000 persons and will contribute in overall socio-economic development of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
• Further, Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir will be benefitted by getting free power worth Rs. 5289 crore and through levy of Water Usage Charges worth Rs.9581 crore from Ratle Hydro Electric Project, during project life cycle of 40 years.

Strategic

• This comes in the backdrop of India’s plan to expedite strategically important hydropower projects in the union territory post its reorganization, as the government plans to fully utilize its share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.
• Strategically vital in the context of China developing the controversial China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), part of its One Belt One Road (OBOR) infrastructure initiative.

Why water diversion?

• The diversion of river flow will enable isolation of dam area, paving way for the excavation and construction works.
• The move will expedite construction activities and help in minimising delays so as to facilitate all efforts to meet the scheduled commissioning deadline of May 2026.