Cumulative Environmental Impacts of the Suki Kinari Hydropower Project (SKHPP) on the Kunhar River Ecosystem: Implications for Sustainable Hydropower Management

( Vol-12,Issue-3,May - June 2026 )

Author(s): Hasnain Ashfaq Hashmi

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Page No: 279-285
DOI: 10.22161/ijaems.123.26

Keywords:

Suki Kinari Hydropower Project (SKHPP), Kunhar River Ecosystem, Cumulative Environmental Impacts, Sustainable Hydropower Management, Renewable Energy Development, Environmental Sustainability, Ecological Integrity, River Basin Management.

Abstract:

Abstract— Although hydropower development is widely regarded as an important renewable energy source, large-scale hydropower infrastructure inside delicate river systems may cause long-term ecological instability. This study looks at how the Suki Kinari Hydropower Project (SKHPP) in northern Pakistan has affected the ecosystem of the Kunhar River over time. The study assesses habitat fragmentation, disturbance of sediment movement, hydrological change, and effects on aquatic biodiversity, especially trout populations. Environmental assessment reports, ecological indicators, and published scientific literature were used in a mixed-methods approach. The results show that river morphology and aquatic ecosystems have been adversely impacted by downstream flow reduction and sediment imbalance. In order to lower ecological risks related to future hydropower growth, the study emphasizes the importance of environmental flow control, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable hydropower governance.

Received: 02 May 2026; Received in revised form: 30 May 2026; Accepted: 03 Jun 2026; Available online: 06 Jun 2026

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