Our Bureau
New Delhi
In continuation of its measure to suspend the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, India has cut off the flow of water through the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River and is expected implement to similar measures at the Kishanganga Dam on the Jhelum River.
The development is crucial given that Baglihar in Jammu’s Ramban and Kishanganga in north Kashmir offer India the ability to regulate the timing of water releases.
According to an official from the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, India began de-silting operations in the Baglihar dam and lowered sluice gates to reduce downstream flow to Pakistan by up to 90%.
“We have closed the gates of the Baglihar hydel power project. We had done de-silting of the reservoir and it has to be refilled. The process was started on Saturday,” confirmed a second official.
A same plan of action will be followed for the Kishanganga dam, which is the first mega hydropower plant located in the north western Himalayas in the Gurez valley. The dam is expected to undergo massive maintenance work, which will halt its downstream flow “very soon”.
Both Baglihar and Kishanganga dams have been a focus of diplomatic scrutiny in the past with Pakistan seeking the World Bank arbitration for resolving disputes related to the former. The Kishanganga Dam, on the other hand, has faced legal hurdles, especially regarding its impact on the Neelum river, a tributary of the Jhelum.
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, has governed the use of the Indus river and its tributaries between India and Pakistan since 1960.
India is currently working on four hydel power projects over the Chenab river and its tributaries in Jammu and Kashmir. According to official sources, there has been significant progress in its execution with the projects likely to be commissioned in 2027-28.
These projects – Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Kiru (624 MW), Kwar (540 MW), and Ratle (850 MW) – are being implemented through a joint venture between NHPC and the Jammu and Kashmir State Power Development Corporation (JKSPDC).
