Mohra Hydroelectric Project: How Asia’s First Powerhouse in Kashmir Became a Forgotten Ruin

Mohra Hydroelectric Project: How Asia’s First Powerhouse in Kashmir Became a Forgotten Ruin

Mohra Hydroelectric Power Project: How Asia’s Earliest Power Station in Kashmir Slipped Into Silence By: Javid Amin | 25 January 2026 More than a century ago, when large parts of Asia still relied on oil lamps and fireplaces, electric bulbs glowed in Srinagar—powered not by coal or diesel, but by the flowing waters of the Jhelum River. At the heart of this quiet revolution stood the Mohra Hydroelectric Power Project, commissioned in 1905 during the reign of Maharaja Pratap Singh. It was not merely a power station; it was a…

Read More

J&K’s Power Crisis: Why is the Region Still Relying on External Power Sources Despite Hydropower Potential?

J&K's Power Crisis: Why is the Region Still Relying on External Power Sources Despite Hydropower Potential?

J&K’s Hydropower Riches: Why is the Region Still Spending Billions on Power Purchases? Jammu and Kashmir’s over-reliance on external power sources has incurred a substantial cost of Rs 63,000 crore over the past 11 years. This hefty expenditure on power purchases from external generation companies (gencos) underlines the ongoing energy challenge in the region, despite its substantial hydropower potential. Official data reveals that from the fiscal year 2012-13 to 2022-23, the power purchase bills from external power distribution companies (discoms) have reached a cumulative total of Rs 63,000 crore. In…

Read More