Amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian government is reportedly planning to increase water storage capacity in its future hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). This move follows India's suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) after a terrorist attack in the Pahalgam region.
Sources familiar with the situation have indicated that the government is taking concrete steps to operate outside the framework of the Indus Waters Treaty, an agreement that has been in place since 1960, despite multiple wars and conflicts between the two nations.
The increased storage capacity is planned for hydroelectric facilities in the Himalayan region of Kashmir. India has already begun work to boost reservoir capacity at two hydroelectric projects. This involves "reservoir flushing," a process to remove sediment, undertaken by the state-owned NHPC Ltd and Jammu and Kashmir authorities. These activities commenced on May 1st and continued for three days. The maintenance operations are being conducted at the Salal and Baglihar hydroelectric projects. According to sources, India did not inform Pakistan about the work being done on these projects, marking the first time such activities have been carried out since the projects were constructed in 1987 and 2008/09, respectively. The Indus Waters Treaty had previously restricted such activities.
While the immediate impact on Pakistan's water supply may be limited, potential future effects could arise if similar initiatives are implemented at other facilities. The region has more than half a dozen such projects.
The government is also expediting several hydroelectric projects in J&K and Ladakh, aiming to reduce completion timelines by three to four months. Nearly 10 new projects are under consideration, with five already approved, including the 240 MW Uri-1 stage-II project. The 850MW Ratle project, which has been subject to disputes under the Indus Water Treaty, is also expected to see an accelerated schedule now that the treaty is in abeyance.
To achieve its goals, the government is considering various measures, including prioritizing fund flow to implementation agencies, offering soft loan mechanisms, waiving water cess, and providing free power supply during construction. The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has been tasked with examining the feasibility of new projects, with nearly 10 projects currently on its shortlist. These projects could potentially generate an additional 1,000 MW of power.
India's water minister has vowed to ensure that "not a single drop of the Indus river's water reaches Pakistan." However, experts on both sides note that the treaty currently allows India to build hydropower plants without significant storage dams on the rivers allocated to Pakistan, making an immediate cessation of water flow difficult.
The current reservoir capacity in Jammu and Kashmir is limited, holding only a small percentage of the annual flow of the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum rivers. The completion of under-construction hydroelectric projects is expected to increase this capacity. Projects like Pakal Dul, Kwar, and Kiru are under construction and are expected to be completed in the coming years. Additionally, projects like Sawalkot, Bursar, and Kirthai-II are planned, which, upon completion, will further enhance India's capacity to manage water flows into Pakistan, especially during dry periods.
