KISHTWAR, May 15 (The Chenab Times) – Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday visited Kishtwar district to assess the progress and operational status of two key hydroelectric power projects — the 850 MW Rattle Hydroelectric Power Project and the 390 MW Dul Hasti Hydroelectric Power Station.
Dulloo, accompanied by Principal Secretary of the Power Development Department H. Rajesh Prasad, Managing Director of JKPDCL Rahul Yadav, and Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Rajesh Kumar Shavan, reviewed ongoing construction activities and discussed operational performance with officials on-site.
At the Rattle project in Drabshalla Block, authorities briefed the Chief Secretary on current developments via a presentation. Dulloo inspected several components, including the power intake structure, coffer dam, underground powerhouse complex and the tail race tunnel.
He directed officials to accelerate construction timelines while upholding quality standards and addressing operational challenges.
Later, Dulloo visited the Dul Hasti Hydroelectric Power Station, where he reviewed performance metrics and met with project staff. He instructed teams to strengthen operational efficiency and resolve outstanding issues.
The visit concluded with a meeting involving representatives of NHPC, CVPPL, and heads of all major power projects in the region. Senior officers from the district administration also attended.
The inspection comes amid renewed tensions between India and Pakistan over the Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan has reportedly written to India, urging it to reconsider the decision to put the decades-old agreement into abeyance. According to reports, Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources has appealed to New Delhi to resume the flow of rivers into its territory as stipulated by the 1960 treaty.
India’s decision to halt the treaty followed a deadly terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, which killed 26 civilians, most of them tourists. The Indus Waters Treaty has been a cornerstone of India-Pakistan water cooperation for over six decades.
Anzer Ayoob is the Founder and Chief Editor to The Chenab Times
