New Delhi: Following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan last week, India has initiated significant steps to enhance its water management and power generation capabilities in Jammu and Kashmir. The suspension came in retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack, marking the first round of measures in response to the attack.
As part of these actions, the government has begun increasing reservoir storage capacities at two major hydroelectric projects in the region: the Salal and Baglihar dams. Last week, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) carried out “reservoir flushing” — a process of removing sediment from the reservoirs — at these sites. This process, which had been prohibited under the IWT, is expected to increase the efficiency of power generation by preventing damage to turbines and allowing the plants to operate at full capacity. Both the 690 MW Salal and 900 MW Baglihar plants had been functioning well below their potential due to sediment buildup.
In addition to this, India is poised to accelerate the construction of six hydroelectric projects that were previously stalled. These projects, which include the Sawalkot project (1,856 MW), the Kirthai I and II facilities (1,320 MW combined), and the Pakal Dul facility (1,000 MW), will collectively add over 4,500 MW of power generation capacity. Once completed, these projects could enable Jammu and Kashmir to generate up to 10,000 MW of electricity, benefiting both domestic consumption and irrigation in the plains.
The urgency of these developments is underscored by the fact that under the IWT, India would have had to notify Pakistan six months in advance before starting construction of such reservoirs or hydropower plants. However, with the suspension of the treaty, India no longer faces this requirement and can proceed with these critical projects without the threat of legal challenges from Pakistan.
The flushing of reservoirs had been restricted due to concerns that releasing large volumes of water could cause flooding downstream in Pakistan. It had also been viewed as wasteful, but with the treaty now suspended, India has moved ahead to ensure more efficient power generation and avoid damage to infrastructure.
India is also expected to revive several other projects, including plans to build along the Chenab River — which falls under India’s jurisdiction according to the IWT — and the Jhelum River, which is allocated to Pakistan. A high-level meeting is scheduled this week, where officials from multiple ministries, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Water Resources Minister CR Patil, and Power Minister ML Khattar, will discuss the next steps.
The IWT, signed in 1960, divides the waters of the Indus River and its five major tributaries between India and Pakistan, with Pakistan receiving exclusive control over the three western rivers (Chenab, Jhelum, and Sutlej), while India has control over the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej). The treaty has been a critical agreement for Pakistan, providing nearly 80% of the country’s irrigation water.
However, after India suspended the treaty on April 24, 2025, in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, it vowed not to allow any water to cross into Pakistan. This decision has prompted strong reactions from Pakistan, which has warned of legal action, calling any move to stop or divert water “an act of war.”
While India cannot immediately halt the flow of water, it has used the Baglihar Dam to temporarily stop the water flow, although the dam’s reservoir has limited capacity. This act signals India’s intent to leverage its water resources as part of broader efforts to pressure Pakistan to cease state-sponsored terrorism across the border.
The suspension of the IWT provides India with greater flexibility in its water management and energy production strategies. Without the constraints of the treaty, India can now pursue dam and reservoir construction projects without facing legal hurdles from Pakistan. Experts, including Kushvinder Vohra, former head of the Central Water Commission, suggest that India could now proceed with the construction of more dams and reservoirs, which had been prohibited under the treaty.
While the focus has been on the suspension of the IWT, India’s military response to the Pahalgam attack also remains a subject of speculation. India has accused Pakistan’s deep state of being involved in the attack, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly given the armed forces a free hand in planning a response. This follows the 2019 Balakot airstrike, where India targeted terror camps in Pakistan after the Pulwama attack.
In the current situation, both the suspension of the IWT and potential military actions are seen as part of India’s broader strategy to counter cross-border terrorism and assert its position on the Indus River system.
