Jammu: The Ministry of Environment has granted ‘in-principle’ approval for the diversion of over 847 hectares of reserved forest and ‘jungle-jhari’ land in Jammu & Kashmir.
The land will be used for the 1,856 MW Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project in Ramban district, a major initiative to tap the hydropower potential of the Chenab River. Final clearance now awaits environmental approval from the J&K government.
The approval comes amid India’s increasing focus on water resource utilization following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan. Despite India’s rights under the treaty to use Chenab’s waters for non-consumptive purposes like hydropower, much of its flow currently remains underutilized.
APAC News Analysis:
The Sawalkot project symbolizes India’s shift toward asserting greater control over shared rivers. While it aligns with strategic interests, the ecological cost—particularly the loss of forest land—is a concern that needs to be kept in mind for long-term sustainability and conservation of local biodiversity.
