India to speed up hydroelectric plan on Chenab, Jhelum, Indus

NEW DELHI: With India announcing suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, work is set to be expedited across a series of hydropower projects off the Chenab-Jhelum-Indus axis from Kiru to Kwar - projects held up for years due to IWT.

While IWT requires India to give nearly six-month notice to Pakistan on any new project work - a major roadblock due to recurrent Pakistani objections - the suspension of the treaty may allow India to set this requirement aside, ET has learnt.

Water sufficiency for J&K apart, the move could give a near 10,000 MW boost to the power-starved Himalayan region, it is estimated.


India is set to pause all IWT-related meetings with Pakistan and is mulling a stoppage of sharing hydrological data with the country, including even extreme flood data. The Indian government is learnt to be examining all legal provisions on this, ET has gathered.

The biggest move, however, will be on building power projects and water storage infrastructure off the Chenab and Jhelum.

On top priority is construction of a series of hydroelectric projects, including 540 MW Kwar, 1000 MW Pakal Dul, 624 MW Kiru, 390 MW Kirthai I and 930 MW Kirthai II, 1,856 MW Sawalkot, among others, which are expected to generate over 3,000 MW and add up to 10,000 million units to the J&K electricity inventory.

The move could be critical for J&K as several Indian power project plans - Tulbul to Baglihar, Kishanganga, Ratle, Uri, Lower Kalnai among others - have been held up due to repeated objections by Pakistan on project design or legal provisions under IWT.

India is also not able to conduct de-silting or flushing of existing dam projects in its upper riparian areas due to Pakistan's stance.

J&K assembly has often debated and sought revision of IWT citing power shortage and irrigation requirements in the region due to the major constraints imposed on India due to the treaty.

India is also planning to stop all hydrological data sharing with Pakistan. It is learnt that the already delayed annual meeting of Indus Commissioners is set to be put on ice as is overall dispute resolution mechanism which India has followed so far - Pakistani experts were in India in June 2024 to examine HEP projects off Kishanganga and Ratle.

India is also looking to hold back riverine data from Pakistan, it is learnt. As per IWT, on a monthly basis and at least every three months, data has to be shared.