Work resumes on Bhutan’s Punatsangchhu-I hydropower project after 7-year halt

NEW DELHI: (Apr 11) Work on Bhutan’s 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu-I hydropower project has resumed after a seven-year suspension, with India’s Power Minister Manohar Lal attending a key concrete pouring ceremony marking the restart of dam construction.

The revival of the India-funded project, stalled since 2019 due to geological challenges, is seen as a major milestone in bilateral energy cooperation and is expected to pave the way for completion within five years.

According to an official statement, Manohar Lal, during his visit to Bhutan, visited the project site, which is the largest joint hydropower venture between the two countries and is expected to enhance Bhutan’s hydropower capacity substantially upon completion.