JAKEDA floats bids for 35 hydropower projects in 15 J&K districts

By: Raja Syed Rather

Srinagar: In a renewed push towards clean energy and reduced reliance on external electricity sources, the Jammu and Kashmir Energy Development Agency (JAKEDA) has invited bids for 35 new small hydropower projects across the Union Territory.

Spanning 15 districts, these projects aim to generate a combined capacity of 60.05 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable energy. The move aligns with the newly announced J&K Renewable Energy Policy 2023, which promotes sustainable development and encourages private sector participation in the energy sector.

Backed by the Department of Science and Technology, the projects will be implemented under two models: the Swiss Challenge Mode and the Independent Power Producer (IPP) Mode. This dual approach aims to attract a mix of innovation, competition, and private investment.

Seventeen of the projects with a cumulative capacity of 30.85 MW will be developed through the Swiss Challenge Mode. The key locations include Pulwama – 1.5 MW,Kishtwar – Multiple projects (1–2 MW each),Ganderbal – 0.70 MW,Doda – 2 MW, Anantnag – 2 MW, Kulgam – 2 MW,Doda (additional) – 2 MW while the remaining 18 projects, totaling 29.20 MW will be awarded under the IPP Model, covering districts like Anantnag – 1.1 MW & 1.5 MW, Kupwara – 1.6 MW,Baramulla – 2 MW,Budgam – 2 MW,Bandipora – Multiple projects, Kishtwar – 1.5 MW & 2 MW, Ramban – 1.3 MW & 2 MW, Reasi – 1.5 MW, Poonch – 2 MW & 1.4 MW and Ganderbal – 1.5 MW

Each project will follow a Build, Own, Operate, and Transfer (BOOT) model for a concession period of 40 years. After this term, the projects will be handed back to the government.

Bidding is being conducted transparently via the online portal of the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC), ensuring wider participation from qualified developers.

“This is a defining step toward clean energy generation and local empowerment,” said a senior JAKEDA official. “We’re leveraging our natural assets to meet future energy needs and support economic growth, especially in remote areas.”

Beyond energy generation, the initiative is expected to create employment, Enhance local infrastructure, and improve electricity access in underserved regions—providing a boost to both economic and social development.

Crucially, this project supports India’s national climate goals, including the target of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030. With Jammu and Kashmir holding over 2,000 MW of estimated small hydropower potential, such initiatives are pivotal in unlocking sustainable development in the region.

By turning its rivers and streams into channels of clean energy, Jammu and Kashmir is not only lighting up homes but also paving the way for a resilient, eco-friendly, and energy-secure future, This ambitious hydropower initiative is more than a policy—it’s a promise of progress and a beacon of hope across the region. —(KNO)