Jammu And Kashmir ’s New Hydropower Policy: A Step Towards Its Sustainable Development, Private Investment, And Eco-tourism Growth

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Jammu and Kashmir authorities is connected measurement to bring a caller hydropower argumentation for wooing nan backstage finance successful tapping nan hydroelectric potential, believed to person imaginable of 18,000 MW successful nan region. The purpose is to plug nan powerfulness procreation spread from nan region and nan backstage assemblage successful a monolithic way. In summation to promoting energy, nan argumentation opens up abstraction for eco-tourism projects, taking advantage of nan J&K pristine landscapes for Tourism and nan country’s hydroelectric installments.

Salient features of nan New Hydropower Policy

The projected caller hydropower policy, nan Jammu and Kashmir State Hydroelectric Projects Development Policy 2011, is apt to supply awesome breakthroughs to developers. The provisions are aimed to woo backstage assemblage by removing various restrictions and charges progressive arsenic per nan earlier argumentation framework.

Two of nan cardinal changes were one, connected costs of h2o for watering animals and flushing toilets and two, connected a domicile. These clauses, which constricted nan mini hydro projects only to nan authorities residents successful nan earlier policies, person now been done distant with. This brings nan argumentation person to that successful different hydropower states for illustration Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh.

Promotion of backstage finance done transparent and facilitated mechanisms

The argumentation draught emphasises that nan backstage assemblage information would beryllium promoted nether 2 models–IPP (Independent Power Producer) and PPP. This Policy envisages a much transparent allocation system and financial incentives, easier clearances and assured powerfulness acquisition agreements. The purpose is to make renewable power investing much appealing and nan process easier for developers.

Stating that nan authorities is committed to sustainable development, cleanable power and inclusive growth, nan section accusation and nationalist relations (DIPR) successful a connection said that each these are nan directions of nan government. Introduction The caller argumentation has been interpreted arsenic a activity successful nan correct guidance toward these goals.

Incentives for Developers

As per nan caller policy, developers guidelines to beryllium incentivised arsenic per nan J&K Industrial Policy 2021-30. IPP and PPP Project of up to 100 MW will beryllium offered connected PPP and IPP mode. It besides envisages a system for nan acquisition of powerfulness from projects up to 25 MW nether nan J&K government’s trading utility, pinch nan authorities having nan first correct of refusal for nan projects having nan capacity of generating supra 25 MW.

The argumentation besides offers free powerfulness for nan state. The authorities will get 12 percent of nan powerfulness produced from projects upto 25 MW complete 40-year statement period, successful lawsuit these are installed successful SECI specified star parks. For those projects betwixt 25 MW and 100 MW, nan argumentation besides offers free powerfulness up to 10 years (power charges)Offsetting nan remaining 30 years’ of free powerfulness accordingly.

Environmental Considerations and Sustainable Development

Although nan argumentation is intended to summation power production, it besides emphasizes nan request for biology protection and sustainable development. The region’s situation and earthy resources are paramount successful nan caller policy. Steps will beryllium taken to debar fertile farmland and trim resettlement successful nan building of hydroelectricity plants.

Secretary, Science & Technology, Shahid Choudhary highlighted nan request to nexus subject and exertion pinch nan environment-friendly process. The policy, he said, is simply a holistic scheme for clean, inclusive, sustainable power for nan future.

Impact of Water Usage Charges and Revenue

Take a look astatine nan caller policy, 1 of nan astir important changes has been nan elimination of specified h2o usage charges, which had been a cardinal root of gross for nan authorities during nan 2011 policy. This is peculiarly harmful successful a location discourse owed to nan imaginable nonaccomplishment of revenues to nan state, according to officials of Jammu and Kashmir Water Regulatory Authority. There is already a gross shortage of Rs 250-350 crore owed to these existing hydropower projects wherever owners person refused to salary h2o charges.

The government, however, is betting nan agelong word summation of getting backstage finance into nan state and solving nan powerfulness cuts will much than compensate for nan contiguous nonaccomplishment of revenues.

Hydropower and Tourism – A Booming Symbiosis of J&K

Apart from its thrust connected powerfulness generation, nan caller hydropower argumentation besides ensures This tin besides beryllium supplemented by tourism activities to supply a unsocial vulnerability to nan visitors. The picturesque quality of nan region, pinch its eco-sustainable hydroelectric energy, adds a caller colour to nan eco-tourism. Visitors person nan opportunity to sojourn areas adjacent hydroelectric accommodation while discussing renewable power accumulation and nan relevance of h2o resources for nan section ecology.

J&K whitethorn create escapade tourism activities (water escapade sports specified arsenic kayaking, rafting, vertebrate watching etc.) successful nan catchment areas of hydropower plants. Not only would specified projects entreaty to eco-aware tourists, they could stimulate nan section system pinch jobs and accrued tourism revenue.

Hydropower successful Clean Energy Future

The caller hydropower argumentation is successful statement pinch nan imagination of building a cleanable power early for nan Nation. And successful an era of ambiance variability and retreating glaciers, renewables including run-of-river and pumped-storage hydro tin play an basal climate-control role.” These hydroelectric projects whitethorn fulfill India’s request for accrued power, while besides advancing biology sustainability and nan improvement of eco-tourism.

Conclusion: A Future of Hydropower, Sustainability, and Eco-Tourism

The J&K Hydro Power Policy-2025 represents a awesome departure from nan believe to beforehand backstage finance successful nan hydro powerfulness assemblage successful nan region. With its opportunities of charismatic incentives, removal of obsolete restrictions and support to sustainable project, nan caller argumentation intends to lend towards nan power requirements of nan region while protecting nan environment. In addition, by combining hydropower pinch eco-tourism, J&K tin go a apical centre of attraction for those who want to spot some renewable power and nature.