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Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Indus pact on hold, Govt plans monthly flushing of Salal and Baglihar dams
WITH the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance and the government having already carried out the first flushing exercise at Baglihar and Salal — its two run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir — the Central Water Commission (CWC) has now recommended that such flushing become a monthly routine, The Indian Express has learned. As first reported by The Indian Express on May 4, NHPC and the Jammu & Kashmir administration have begun flushing the Salal and Baglihar reservoirs to clear out sediment that hinders power output. This is the first such exercise since Salal was built in 1987 and Baglihar in 2008-09, after Pakistan's repeated objections under the IWT had previously blocked these works. Sources said the flushing that began in early May removed just over 7.5 million cubic metres (MCM) of sediment from the 690 MW Salal and 900 MW Baglihar reservoirs. 'The CWC has now recommended that forced flushing be carried out monthly for both projects, and an SOP (standard operating procedure) will be issued shortly,' a senior official said. Flushing involves releasing stored water to remove sediment build-up — sand, silt and clay — that settles in reservoirs over time. Sediment reduces reservoir capacity and hampers hydropower output. By regularly flushing these particles out, operators restore storage space and improve turbine efficiency, ensuring reliable power generation and prolonging the life of hydroelectric plants. However, Pakistan has routinely objected to this exercise given that flushing, the release of stored water to remove sediment, can temporarily boost downstream flow. And recharge, the reservoir's replenishment by closing of gates, can reduce the volume available for later release. Making flushing a monthly exercise is part of the government's short-term plan to utilise Indus waters after the treaty was placed in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack. As a further short-term measure, India will neither share hydrological data with Pakistan nor inform it of these flushing operations. For the medium and long term, India plans to fast-track hydroelectric projects stalled by Pakistan's objections under the treaty, consider diverting some Indus flows, and explore building new projects, a senior official said. 'For any new project under the treaty, India had to inform Pakistan six months in advance. We are under no such obligation now,' the official added. Among the hydroelectric projects the government will expedite are Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Kiru (624 MW), Kwar (540 MW) and Ratle (850 MW), all on the Chenab River. The Indus Waters Treaty was signed on September 19, 1960, after nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan. It has 12 Articles and eight Annexures (A to H). Under its provisions, all the water of the 'Eastern Rivers'—Sutlej, Beas and Ravi—shall be available for the 'unrestricted use' of India; Pakistan shall receive water from the 'Western Rivers'—Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. India paused this treaty 'until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.' It formally informed Pakistan of this decision by letter dated April 24; Pakistan recently replied signalling its willingness to discuss Delhi's concerns and suggested a date in May for that discussion. This offer is especially significant because, despite two prior notices—in January 2023 and again in September 2024—requesting a 'review and modification' of the IWT, Pakistan had not previously expressed explicit willingness. It was only after India placed the treaty in abeyance with immediate effect following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that Pakistan signalled its readiness. Ritika Chopra, an award-winning journalist with over 17 years of experience, serves as the Chief of the National Bureau (Govt) and National Education Editor at The Indian Express in New Delhi. In her current role, she oversees the newspaper's coverage of government policies and education. Ritika closely tracks the Union Government, focusing on the politically sensitive Election Commission of India and the Education Ministry, and has authored investigative stories that have prompted government responses. Ritika joined The Indian Express in 2015. Previously, she was part of the political bureau at The Economic Times, India's largest financial daily. Her journalism career began in Kolkata, her birthplace, with the Hindustan Times in 2006 as an intern, before moving to Delhi in 2007. Since then, she has been reporting from the capital on politics, education, social sectors, and the Election Commission of India. ... Read More
New Indian Express
09-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Centre fast-tracks power line approval for Pakal Dul project weeks after suspending Indus Waters Treaty
NEW DELHI: The Union Government has approved the establishment of an electricity transmission line for the upcoming 1,000 MW (one gigawatt) Pakal Dul hydropower project on the Marusudar river -- a tributary of the Chenab River -- in the Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir. This comes after India put the 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance in response to the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack carried out by a Pakistan-backed terrorist outfit. The government's decision to approve the setup of the electricity transmission system in just 40 days is seen as a strategic move to harness more water from the Indus River Basin in the future. Experts point out that such approvals typically take months or even years, indicating the government's urgency to expedite the process of utilising more water from the Indus River Basin. The Pakal Dul project will be the largest on any of the rivers in the Indus Basin, featuring a significantly larger storage system to generate more electricity. It is expected to be commissioned by September 2026. The transmission lines will traverse 21 villages in the Kishtwar district. The approval notification was issued on 5 May, just days before 'Operation Sindoor', a military action targeting terrorist infrastructure across nine locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
News18
08-05-2025
- Business
- News18
How Modi Govt Is Fast-Tracking 4 Big Hydropower Projects Amid India-Pakistan Tensions
Last Updated: The four hydro-power projects being fast-tracked are - Pakal Dul, Kiru, Kwar and Kirthai. 'Now, India's water will flow for India's rights, will be stored for India's rights, and will serve only India's needs"- So said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, reflecting his firm stance on managing India's water resources more effectively and ensuring they benefit the country first. After the big surgical strikes in Pakistan, India is planning the big squeeze on water going to Pakistan. But how will this be executed? Four major hydro-power projects are being fast-tracked by the government. This comes at a time when India has put the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed by cross-border terrorists. 1. Pakal Dul HE Project: Located in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar, the concrete-faced rock fill dam, standing at 167m, is the highest of its kind in India, with 72m of dam height progress and 24.78 lakh cum filling achieved. The completion of the Head Race Tunnel is vital for the timely completion of the project, and excavation is progressing rapidly. The government has approved the setup of transmission lines. The spiral casing erection for Unit-1 and Unit-2 was completed in February 2024. 2. Kiru HE Project (624 MW): Located in Kishtwar, the timely completion of dam concreting works is essential for the project's completion, with 3.5 lakh cum of concreting achieved out of a total of 13.95 lakh cum. The project is expected to be completed within the fixed timeline. 3. Kwar HE Project (540 MW): A major milestone, the diversion of the River Chenab, was achieved in January 2024, allowing the start of main dam works, which are currently in progress. 4. Kirthai Stage-I (930 MW): Located in the Kishtwar district, J&K, upstream of the Kiru HE project on the Chenab River, this run-of-river project will generate 3329.52 MU annually in a 90% dependable year. It involves the construction of a 121m high concrete gravity dam. The project is set to begin without the need for an earlier Indus Water Treaty clearance application. The power generated will be distributed widely. More Developments Power Purchase Agreements for Pakal Dul HE Project and Kwar HE Project have been signed with Chhattisgarh State Power Distribution Company Limited (CSPDCL) and Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Limited (GUVNL). Consents for power purchase have been received from Haryana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka for both projects. A Power Purchase Agreement for Kiru HE Project, covering 543 MW, has been signed with GUVNL, and consents for power purchase have been received from Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. First Published: May 08, 2025, 08:18 IST
Hindustan Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
India orders power transmission system for upcoming dam on Chenab
NEW DELHI: The Centre has issued a notification to set up a power transmission system for the proposed 1000 MW Pakal Dul hydroelectric project in Jammu and Kashmir, speeding up processes for what will be the biggest dam on the Indian side of the Indus river system. The notification is the first major step in commissioning work for the proposed 1000 MW Pakal Dul hydroelectric project , which will be capable of storing water. (File Photo) The notification is the first major step in commissioning work for the dam, which will be capable of storing water, since India unilaterally suspended the Indus water treaty with Pakistan after terrorists massacred dozens of tourists in Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. The notification was issued on Tuesday, hours before Indian armed forces carried out precision missile strikes on 'terrorist infrastructure' at nine sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians two weeks ago. New Delhi announced a raft of punitive measures, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, the closure of its airspace to Pakistani aircraft, the expulsion of most Pakistani nationals, and the closure of the only operational land border crossing at Attari following the terror attack. Following up on the announcement, the Union Jal Shakti (water resources) minister CR Patil last month declared that India would 'ensure not a drop of water from the Indus rivers reaches Pakistan'. Alongside, the state-run National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd, the country's biggest hydropower firm, has begun carrying out reservoir flushing in the Salal and Baglihar dams, being done for the first time since the latter was built in 2008. 'This involves flushing sediments downstream from the reservoirs, which increases flow downstream till the process is completed,' said Sadaman Reddy, a former engineer with the Central Water Commission. Pakistan lies downstream of the Indus rivers. India did not inform Pakistan about the work at the dams as it no longer adheres to the Indus treaty, a person familiar with the matter said.
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'.
