India has initiated work to increase reservoir holding capacity at two key hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, as per sources. This marks the first practical step by New Delhi to act outside the long-standing water-sharing pact. The move follows heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours after an attack in Kashmir last month killed 26 people. Two of the three attackers were identified as Pakistani nationals.
Pakistan denied involvement and warned that “any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan … will be considered as an act of war”.
The “reservoir flushing” process, aimed at removing sediment buildup, began on May 1 and was carried out by NHPC Ltd, India’s largest hydropower firm, alongside authorities in Jammu and Kashmir, three sources informed news agency Reuters. This operation had not been carried out since the Salal and Baglihar dams were constructed in 1987 and 2008/09 respectively, due to prohibitions under the IWT.
Pakistan never granted full permission for complete de-silting. Following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, full-scale de-silting was undertaken to enhance power generation. For this, water is stored in the dam up to 840 feet. Once ponding reaches the full capacity, the gates will be opened.
The flushing process involves releasing sediment-laden water downstream, which may lead to sudden inundation, followed by a temporary reduction in water flow while the reservoirs refill. Although not expected to immediately disrupt Pakistan’s water supply—dependent largely on rivers flowing through India—the operation could set a precedent if other Indian dams follow suit.
Local residents along the Chenab River in Kashmir confirmed they saw water releases from the Salal and Baglihar dams between Thursday and Saturday. Videos shared by locals showed parts of the river flowing forcefully while other sections were choked with sediment.
#WATCH | Jammu and Kashmir: The Chenab River witnessed a significant drop in water levels in Akhnoor after the closure of gates at the Baglihar and Salal Dams. pic.twitter.com/9J5v5XIVmU
— ANI (@ANI) May 5, 2025
“I am 75 years old, but this is the first time I have witnessed that the water of Chenab River can be stopped. I thank PM Modi for his decision. I am shocked to see only 1.5-2 feet of water in the Chenab River. In the next 2 hours, this water can also dry up. We are all standing with the Army,” he told news agency ANI.
“This is the first time such an exercise has taken place and will help in more efficient power generation and prevent damage to turbines,” one source told Reuters. “We were also asked to open the adjustable gates for cleaning, which we did from May 1,” the source added, stating the goal was to remove treaty-imposed operational limitations.
According to Reuters’ report, two sources noted that sediment had severely affected power output from the 690-MW Salal and 900-MW Baglihar projects. “Flushing is not a common thing because it leads to a lot of water wastage,” one of them said, stressing that downstream nations are usually notified due to the potential for flooding.
Under the 1960 treaty, India was allocated the eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—while Pakistan received the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. The pact required India to share hydrological data and issue flood warnings to Pakistan. However, the suspension on 24 April allows India to proceed “at free will,” said Kushvinder Vohra, a former Central Water Commission chief who worked extensively on Indus disputes, the report stated.
Meanwhile, water was released into the Chenab after the Baglihar dam was filled to its designated capacity. The dam has five gates. After filling to the prescribed capacity, the water was directed through a tunnel to the turbines to generate electricity, and subsequently discharged back into the Chenab River through another tunnel. The gates have not yet been opened to release water into the river, as doing so would reduce the water level below the required capacity.
As such, once the dam was filled to the designated level, electricity generation began through the tunnel, and the turbine-released water was channelled back into the Chenab River via a canal.
Recently, Jal Shakti minister C R Paatil declared that the country would “ensure no drop of the Indus River’s water reaches Pakistan”.
India Plans To Fast-Track 6 Previously Stalled Hydropower Projects
NDTV reported that India is expected to fast-track six previously stalled hydropower projects, including the 1,856 MW Sawalkot, the combined 1,320 MW Kirthai I and II, and a 1,000 MW Pakal Dul plant, among others. Once completed, these projects could push Jammu and Kashmir’s total generation capacity to nearly 10,000 MW and enhance irrigation and domestic water availability downstream.
Importantly, if the IWT were still operational, India would have had to notify Pakistan six months in advance before beginning construction—giving Islamabad time to mount legal challenges.
Sources also revealed to NDTV that top-level government meetings, including with Home Minister Amit Shah, Water Resources Minister C.R. Patil, Power Minister M.L. Khattar, and Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, are scheduled this week to discuss next steps, including potential new projects along the Chenab and Jhelum rivers and the revival of Wular Lake.
Pakistan’s ‘Act Of War’ Stance On India’s Indus Waters Treaty Move
Pakistan, meanwhile, has warned of legal action and reiterated its denial of involvement in the Pahalgam attack. It said any attempt to divert its share of water would amount to “an act of war”.
The Indus Waters Treaty has long restricted India’s ability to build reservoirs or large dams on rivers allotted to Pakistan, allowing only run-of-river projects without significant water storage. The suspension now gives India scope to pursue more ambitious infrastructure.
Amid the water tensions, India has also hinted at a possible military response. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly granted the armed forces a “free hand” to respond to the Kashmir attack, which has been claimed by The Resistance Front, a group linked to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh and Navy Chief Dinesh K Tripathi have both held separate meetings with PM Modi in recent days.
In 2019, following a deadly Pulwama attack attributed to Jaish-e-Mohammed, India launched an airstrike on terror camps in Balakot, Pakistan—indicating the seriousness with which it views cross-border terror.
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