Resource potential and development of small hydro power projects in Jammu and Kashmir in the western Himalayan region: India

Abstract

Jammu and Kashmir state falls on the northern most western region of the country. Owing to its limited resources, mostly dependent on the tourism and allied sectors this is an economically backward state of the country. Though it has immense hydro power potential, but its full potential could not be exploited so far. In the recent years, the government is paying special attention to this economic source of hydro potential and a lot of projects in different regions of the state have been identified. Some of these are in the planning stage and some are approved for execution after completing the investigation and design work. Due to the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan in 1960 all the hydro power projects in the state are to be designed on the basis of run of the river scheme type. For the development of large and small hydro projects the state government has devised separate hydro energy policies for these projects. In this article, we have discussed the hydro policies, environmental issues, social issues, economical issues and other challenges related to the small hydro power projects in Jammu and Kashmir.