Power Minister inspects Chenab hydro project, directs faster silt removal from reservoir post IWT termination

Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs Manohar Lal on Sunday directed NHPC to expedite silt removal operations of the Salal reservoir, located on the Chenab River in Reasi district, following the termination of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). He also laid the foundation stone of the concreting works of the Ratle Hydroelectric Project.

It is pertinent to mention that the Salal Power Station, located on the Chenab River, is undertaking sediment removal works following the termination of the Indus Waters Treaty, aimed at removing accumulated silt and maximizing optimal utilization of water resources, the government said in a release.

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Bhupendra Gupta, CMD, NHPC briefed Manohar Lal on the progress of various hydroelectric projects located in Jammu & Kashmir. The minister's two-day visit includes inspections of projects located in Reasi, Ramban and Kishtwar districts.

He also conducted an aerial inspection of the Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project (1856 MW).

The minister held discussions with the local administration and senior officials of various concerned departments to ensure coordinated efforts for timely execution of works.

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The Ratle hydropower project is a joint venture between the J&K government and NHPC. The 850 MW project was approved in 2021 at a total cost of Rs 5,281.94 crore, with the scheduled commissioning date set for May 2026.

The project falls under the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan, which was put in abeyance by New Delhi earlier last year after the Pahalgam terror attack.

The Ministry of External Affairs' Secretary Misri, in April, announced that the Indus Waters Treaty between the two countries will also be suspended with immediate effect.

"The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 will be held in abeyance with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism", Misri told reporters in New Delhi.

What is Indus Waters Treaty?

The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan.

As per the Treaty, the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) are allocated to Pakistan and the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) are given to India. At the same time, the Treaty allows each country certain uses on the rivers allocated to the other.