New Delhi: The terror attack in April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam killed 26 innocent people. Since then, the tension between India and Pakistan has increased massively with the entire world anxiously following the developments. Notably, among the host of measures India has implemented in its retaliation against Pakistan, there is the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty.
In the 1960, the Indus Water Treaty came into effect and apart from India and Pakistan, the World Bank was also a signatory of the pact. The treat aimed to distribute the Indus water and that of its tributaries equally between the two nations. Interestingly, Pakistan’s agriculture is the backbone of its economy, and it is heavily dependent on the Indus River water. Almost the entire irrigation system of the country relies on Indus River’s water and any kind of disruption could result in water scarcity, reduced crop yields, and trigger domestic chaos in Pakistan, especially in the provinces of Sindh and Punjab which are already troubled by water shortage.
Amid such a scenario, India is reportedly looking to increase the pace of five significant hydroelectric power projects in Jammu and Kashmir after suspending the Indus Water Treaty. Since the treaty is not valid at present, those progress can progress at a greater pace. According to a report by the Economic Times, the government is considering moving forward with hydroelectric initiatives: the 260 MW Dulhasti II, 800 MW Bursar plant, 240 MW Uri Stage II, 930 MW Kirthai II and 1856 MW Swalkote HEP.
Why is the government focusing on these projects?
The Indian government is reportedly looking to increase the pace of these projects to address Jammu and Kashmir power needs and also to strengthen its position regarding western river water resources. Once these projects are completed, Jammu and Kashmir which is a power-deficient region will get 4000MW of power. All the projects have been planned within the Chenab valley except the While Uri Stage II which is situated on the Jhelum River in Baramulla district.
It would reportedly take 3 to 5 years for the government to complete these projects as they are being prioritized following the Pahalgam terror attack. For India to fully and effectively implement the Indus Waters Treaty, these projects would play a key role. The Swalkote is the largest initiative and it is situated in the Ramban district. It will be a 192.5-metre dam, while Dulhasti Stage-II in Kishtwar district will have an underground powerhouse (2×130 MW). The Bursar hydroelectric project will also reportedly be in Kishtwar district and it will act as a storage facility that will regulate the flow of water.
While the IWT meant that these projects had to comply with specific design and operational requirements mentioned in it, India’s suspension of the treaty means that it can now entirely bypass the conditions of the treaty. For projects which have necessary domestic approvals, including technical and environmental clearances, and only need the IWT clearance, India’s decision to suspend the treaty has come as a massive boost.
