Latest news with #KirthaiI
Mint
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
India enhances security at hydropower plants amid escalating tensions with Pakistan
New Delhi: Following precision strikes by Indian armed forces on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the government has heightened security at hydropower facilities across the country, according to two officials aware of the matter. "Security at hydro projects has been enhanced in view of the current security situation," said one of the two people mentioned above. While hydropower installations are generally well-secured, the second official said that security protocols are intensified during times of heightened tension. The development comes as state-run NHPC is desilting some of its projects in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the Baglihar and Salal hydropower plants, to create more space for water storage. "Desilting at these projects was earlier restricted under the Indus Water Treaty. With the treaty now in abeyance, we have the opportunity to remove the silt and clean up the dam. It's usually a routine process at all hydroproject plants across the country," the first official added. On 29 April, Mint reported that India plans to fast-track several hydropower projects on rivers flowing into Pakistan, including new projects on the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers and their tributaries. This follows India's decision to suspend the 1960 Indus Water Treaty after the 22 April terrorist attacks in Pahalgam that killed 26 people. Key hydropower projects now being expedited include Sawalkot (1,856 MW), Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Ratle (850 MW), Bursar (800 MW), Kiru (624 MW), and Kirthai I & II (1,320 MW). The Centre is also preparing for mock drills in major cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Pune—to test emergency response systems in hospitals, schools, and government offices. Organized by the National Disaster Management Authority, the drills will test emergency response in hospitals, schools, and government offices. The drills are aimed at strengthening preparedness against 'new and complex threats,' according to the Union ministry of home affairs. Early Wednesday, the Indian armed forces carried out targeted strikes on nine terror-linked sites under 'Operation Sindoor'.
NDTV
05-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Reservoir Flushing, 6 New Projects: India Acts After Indus Treaty Suspension
New Delhi: A week after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan - in the first round of retaliatory measures for the Pahalgam terror attack - the government has begun increasing reservoir storage capacities at two hydroelectric projects in Kashmir, sources told NDTV. Specifically, 'reservoir flushing' - i.e., removing of sediment - was carried out at the Salal and Baglihar projects by the state-run National Hydroelectric Power Corporation last week. The government is also expected to accelerate construction of six stalled projects in the region - a 1,856 MW project in Sawalkot, the Kirthai I and I facilities that will generate a combined 1,320 MW, and a 1,000 MW facility in Pakal Dul, as well as three others making a total of 2,224 MW. Once these six are completed, Jammu and Kashmir could generate up to 10,000 MW of electricity, and there could be more water for irrigation and domestic consumption in the plains. All of this is significant because if the Indus Waters Treaty, or IWT, were still operational, India would have had to give Pakistan six months' notice before starting construction, during which time Islamabad would have mounted multiple legal challenges to delay or cancel the projects. NDTV Explains | Indus Waters Treaty, Partition, Planning, Pak Impact The flushing of the reservoirs was key for the same reason; India had not been able to clean them since they were built in 1987 and 2009 as it had been prohibited by the IWT. Flushing had been banned as downstream countries, in this case Pak, may face flooding and destruction of property from the force of the released water. It also leads to wastage. However, sources told Reuters that finally being able to carry out the flushing exercise would "help in more efficient power generation and prevent damage to the turbines". It was pointed out that the 690 MW Salal and the 900 MW Baglihar plants had been operating well below capacity. With regard to construction starting on the six projects, a major meeting is likely to be held this week between Home Minister Amit Shah, Water Resources Minister CR Patil, Power Minister ML Khattar, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chouhan, and senior officials from each ministry. Two meetings - between Mr Shah, Mr Patil, and their ministry officials - have already taken place, in which other possible activities, including initiating of new projects along the Chenab (allotted to India under the IWT) and Jhelum (to Pakistan) rivers and reviving the Wular Lake. India Suspends IWT India suspended the IWT with Pakistan on April 24, vowing not one drop of water would cross the border. The IWT is a critical agreement for Pak; it divides the Indus River and its five major tributaries between India and itself, and supplies nearly 80 per cent of that country's farms. Pakistan, in turn, threatened legal action as it denied any role in the Pahalgam attack, warning, "Any attempt to stop or divert water belonging to Pakistan ... will be 'an act of war'". The Indus Waters Treaty gives the India rights over the Sutlej, Beas, and Chenab rivers (File). Since India suspended the IWT there has been talk about how India might effectively stop flow of water to Pakistan, as Delhi seeks to put non-military pressure on Islamabad to stop state-sponsored terrorist cross-border activity. The general opinion is that India cannot stop water flow immediately - for the simple reason that it does not have reservoirs to store the surplus. This morning, however, Delhi, did briefly stop water through the Baglihar Dam. It was a temporary move because the reservoir can hold a limited capacity only. READ | India's Water Warning To Pak As It Blocks Dam On Chenab However, coming amid tensions in the wake of Pahalgam, it is a clear warning sign for Pak. The Chenab, on which the Baglihar dam is built, is a 'western river'. Pak is entitled to its unrestricted use. India can only use it for agriculture, hydroelectric projects, or other 'non-consumptive use'. Overall, building of dams and reservoirs had been banned, or at least regulated under the IWT; on the three rivers allocated to Pak, for example, India could only build plants without big storage facilities. But now, if India pushes through with its threat to completely cut off water to Pakistan, more dams and reservoirs will have to be built, and the suspension means India can now pursue such projects "at will", Kushvinder Vohra, the ex-head of the Central Water Commission, who worked on Indus disputes, said.
