India, Feb. 9 -- After decades of delay, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has floated a tender worth '5,129 crore for the construction of the Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River in Jammu. The 1,856-MW project is one of the first to get greenlit by the Union Government after the abrogation of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT).

The development is being viewed as part of New Delhi's broader strategy to optimise the use of water allocated to India under the IWT framework. The project, situated in the Udhampur and Ramban districts may take about nine years to complete.

The scope of tender includes construction of diversion tunnels and adits, cofferdams for diverting the Chenab River, access tunnels and roads, as ...