The centre is all set to build its biggest hydroelectric power project on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, weeks after suspending the Indus Water Treaty. The Centre has invited tenders for construction of the 1,856 MW Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab river near Sidhu village in Ramban District of Jammu and Kashmir.
This development will add to Pakistan’s woes, which already stand on the back foot after the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, following the Pahalgam terror attack.
NHPC has invited e-tenders for the project that was originally conceived in the 1960s.
The last date for submission of online bids is September 10.
The project site is located near Sidhu village in Ramban district, roughly 120 km from Jammu and 130 km from Srinagar, construction of the Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project is a major step to optimise India’s use of Indus water as the treaty remains suspended.
The Indus Water Treaty was put in abeyance as one of India’s strict actions against Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
The Sawalkote project conceived in the 1980s was in limbo for the last 40 years. Besides procedural delays, Pakistan objected to the construction of the project, citing concerns about the impact of the dam on the flow of the Chenab River.
After the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 22, India declared it would hold the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance till the time Pakistan irrevocably abjures terrorism.
Under the treaty brokered by the World Bank in 1960, India has absolute rights over the water of the Beas, Satlej and Ravi rivers. Pakistan has rights over the water of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers.
Yesterday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasised the importance of suspension of the Indus Water Treaty.
“The Indus Water Treaty, in many ways, is a very unique agreement. I cannot think of any agreement in the world where a country has allowed its major rivers to flow to the next country without having rights on that river,” Jaishankar said.
“On November 30th 1960. He (Jawaharlal Nehru) says I would like to know if this house is to judge the quantum of supply of water or money to be given. People objected to that. The PM also said, ‘Let me do this treaty for the interest of Pakistani Punjab, not a word about farmers of Kashmir or Punjab. Not a word about Rajasthan or Gujarat,'” Jaishankar said.
He also added that PM Modi has “corrected” Jawaharlal Nehru’s “mistakes” when it comes to handling the Indus Water Treaty and Article 370.
The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank and signed in 1960, governs the distribution of water from the Indus River system between India and Pakistan. The treaty has withstood multiple wars and diplomatic crises, but recent tensions have prompted fresh discussions on its future.
The Sawalkote project will span both Ramban and Udhampur districts, approximately 120 km from Jammu and 130 km from Srinagar, positioning it strategically close to both regional hubs.
The project is designed as a run-of-the-river scheme. It will comprise nine turbines and an underground power station. It will feature a Roller Compacted Concrete Gravity Dam at a height of 192.5 metres.
The water will flow through three horseshoe-shaped tunnels measuring 965 metres, 1,130 metres, and 1,280 metres in length. It will have non-monsoon and monsoon period flood diversions at 2,977 cumec and 9,292 cumec, respectively.