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The Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960 through the World Bank’s mediation to share the river water between India and Pakistan, on 22 April, 26 people were suspended after the killing of 26 people by militants in Pahgam, Kashmir.
The treaty dominated India’s storage capacity on these rivers at 3.6 MAF (million acre feet). Now, with suspending the treaty, India can build hydroelectric dams and reservoirs for flood control over them. It is estimated that the average annual runoff of Indus, Jhelum and Chenab is 136 MAF, out of which 40% (about 54 MAF) comes from Indian catchment.
State -run NHPC Sawalkot (1,856 MW), Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Rattle (850 MW) Bursar (800 MW), Kiru (624 MW), Kirthai 1 and 2 (1,320 MW) will accelerate commissioning.
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“Some projects were raised a few years ago, but they did not gain speed or were held,” said one of the individuals. “Now, work on projects will gain momentum. Rattle is under construction, and Solcot is one of the major projects that will see progress.”
“Currently, the case is in the phase of discussion and we are working on the Terks,” an official with the Jail Shakti Department said, irrigation and flood control on the condition of anonymity in the state government.
The detailed project report for the Solkot project on the Chenab River is complete, but the work is yet to begin, and the rattal project (on the chainb) is underway, which will require about two years for commissioning.
Similarly, the detailed project report (DPR) for Kirthai 2 on Chenb is in the work, while Kirathai 1 is yet to remain. Kiru Hydro Electric Project on the Chenab River is in advanced stages of completion, and is expected to take a year to finish, the other person above said.
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Projects that are originally objected to Pakistan, until the dates up to salt, ur-II, Balibar, Filtang, Palangga, Palangga, Philos and Kirus.
The Union Ministry of Power, Ministry of Water Power and NHPC remained unanswered by press time.
Abhay Kumar Singh, former Chairman and Managing Director of NHPC Limited, said, “With the current infrastructure, India can not immediately share data in Pakistan in terms of water flow and can turn on the flow of water without informing Pakistan for some time.”
The steps to suspend the treaty are expected to barely hit the Eastern neighbor, with 80% of its agriculture, it is dependent on water from the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.
To ensure this, the construction of such projects in the rugged area of Jammu and Kashmir is its own set of challenges besides the Indus Water Treaty. A former member of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) said on the condition of anonymity that the surprise and topography thrown by the area sometimes obstructs projects.
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“Given the mountains there, there are large extent young, if the tunnels are constructed then there is a possibility of landslides or landslides,” this person said. “However, if proper investigation is done and the shrine area and fracture area (which are more weak), the projects may be successful.”
Communication with Pakistan
Even before suspending the Indus Water Treaty, India wrote to Pakistan twice in the last two years, demanding amendment in the treaty.
Following the decision to suspend the treaty, Debashree Mukherjee, secretary of the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, informed his Pakistani counterpart, Syed Ali Murtaza about the move. In a letter dated to the Ministry of Water Resources of Pakistan on 24 April, Mukherjee revised the previous notices from India and demanded amendment and blamed the proposed changes for factors including renewable energy requirement in hydro power.
The letter stated that previous communication cited fundamental changes in circumstances since the performance of the treaty, which requires revaluation of obligations under the treaty. The letter stated, “These changes include quite changed population demographics, need to accelerate clean energy development, and other changes in the underlying beliefs underwater under the treaty,” the letter said.
Hydro projects
India has identified the 18,217 MW or 18.21 GW potential hydro power capacity on the Indus, Jhelum and Chenabs, of which there is a capacity for 14GW alone.
Operating projects in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) that come under the purview of the treaty include Kindinganga, Uri I and II, Dulhasti, Baglihar and SEVA projects, which have a cumulative capacity of more than 3.3GW. A detailed project report or initial feasibility report for another 12.25GW capacity of hydro projects on these rivers has been prepared, with 2.56 GW under construction.
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Former NHPC president Singh said, “With the Indus Water Treaty in Ebens, India will now be able to take the projects that have been planned for a long time, but Pakistan has objected,” NHPC president Singh said, “Further indicating that there is no major storage capacity as yet because the treaty did not allow it.”
Storage problem
While there is no operating capacity for storage at present, the Pakal Dal Project on the Marsudra River, a tributary of the Chenab, which is under construction, has a planned storage capacity of 0.09 MAF. Then, the cumulative capacity of 2.23 MAF has been identified for Pakal Dul, Bursar, Wardwan Bursar, GYSPA and Rattle Projects.
Singh said that storage capacity can now be created which will add both hydro power capabilities and flood mitigation.
Singh further stated that the reservoir capacity of the Salal project, which has reduced considerably due to prohibition on dysling through slicing under the treaty, can still be revived as Pakistan can be sung silt without dodging.
He also said that for employed projects which are mostly run-of-the-supervision projects, new DPRs will be required to plan new large reservoirs, which will include a few more years in the process.
Slow progress
Meanwhile, in March 2023, a report by Comptroller and Auditor General in Parliament expressed concern over the slow progress of hydro power projects in Jammu and Kashmir. It was noted that the lack of ease of trade for independent power producers (IPPS) should be addressed and the State Hydro Power Policy 2011 needs to be re -viewed.
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It was also stated that the state government and concerned government agencies need to help the IPP come forward to ensure the viable identity of sites, finalize the DPR, land acquisition and statutory sanctions with handicraps in land acquisition and statutory approval.
“In relation to EPC projects developed by JKPDC (Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation), besides completing projects, apart from completing projects, the power clearance system can be ensured before completing the projects, in addition to the establishment of the power withdrawal system before completing the projects,” it was said.
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