Following the indefinite suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, India is reportedly constructing two water storage facilities to maximize its use of the Indus River's water. A.K. Bajaj, Former Commissioner (Indus) and Technical Consultant to the Indus Water Treaty for 10 years, told NDTV that these facilities will enable India to store the entirety of its share of Indus waters.

The government had already prepared a framework to renegotiate the treaty two years prior to its suspension. In light of the treaty being put in abeyance, work has accelerated on the Pakuldul Project and Bursar Project, both designed to store water from the Indus River system. The Pakuldul Project is currently under construction, while the Bursar Project is in its final planning stages.

Once completed, these projects will allow India to store more water from the Indus River system as per its requirements and facilitate the diversion of water to states like Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana.

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, had remained untouched despite numerous conflicts between India and Pakistan. Under the agreement, India has unrestricted access to all the water from the eastern rivers—Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi—amounting to approximately 33 million acre feet (MAF) annually.

In addition to the water storage projects, India is also expediting five hydroelectric power projects in Jammu & Kashmir. These include the Bursar plant, Dulhasti II, Swalkote HEP, Uri Stage II, and Kirthai II. These projects could potentially generate 4000MW of power for the region. With the treaty suspended, these projects can advance more rapidly, free from the previously required Indus Waters Treaty approval process.

These developments signify a major shift in India's approach to the Indus Waters Treaty, prioritizing greater control over the Indus system and potentially reducing water flow to Pakistan. This move follows a recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir and marks a departure from India's long-standing policy of keeping water-sharing separate from conflict.