Rapid Fire
Sawalkote Hydropower Project
- 23 Sep 2025
- 2 min read
Post the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) after the Pahalgam terror attack 2025, the stalled Sawalkote Hydropower Project on the Chenab River is being fast-tracked for clearance as a project of strategic and energy significance for Jammu & Kashmir (J&K).
- Sawalkote Hydropower Project: It is a 1,856 MW run-of-the-river (uses the natural flow of a river with little or no water storage) hydroelectric project located on the Chenab River ( a western river under IWT) in Ramban, J&K.
- The project was initiated in 1984 and has faced multiple delays over the years. Declared as a project of national importance, it involves the construction of a concrete gravity dam with a reservoir.
- Once operational, Sawalkote is expected to generate over 7,000 million units of electricity annually, making it one of the largest hydroelectric projects in India.
- Strategic Importance: With the IWT in abeyance, the project is considered crucial for harnessing Chenab River’s hydropower potential and enhancing India’s control over western rivers of IWT. It is a strategic priority to optimize water resources and strengthen energy security.
- Hydroelectric Project on Chenab River: The Chenab River hosts the 390-MW Dulhasti project at Kishtwar, the 890-MW Baglihar project at Ramban, and the 690-MW Salal project at Reasi. These projects significantly contribute to the region's energy supply.
Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)
- It was signed in 1960 in Karachi and was mediated by the World Bank, IWT allocates eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India and western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan, giving Pakistan about 80% of the water.
- India can use the western rivers for limited non-consumptive purposes like hydroelectricity, navigation, and irrigation, following treaty conditions.
|
Read more: Pahalgam Terror Attack and Suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty |
