New Delhi: In a bold shift in its water diplomacy, the Indian government has reportedly put the Indus Waters Treaty on hold, following continued hostilities and lack of cooperation from Pakistan. As part of a recalibrated strategy, authorities have also initiated monthly sediment flushing at key hydroelectric projects—Salal and Baglihar dams—on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir.
This move signals India’s intent to assert greater control over its share of the Indus basin waters, especially amid rising tensions between the two neighbors.
Strategic Water Management Shift
Sources in the Ministry of Jal Shakti confirmed that India has halted regular bilateral communications under the Indus pact framework, citing “persistent non-cooperation and misuse of treaty mechanisms” by Islamabad.
As an operational follow-up, India will routinely flush silt and sediment from the Salal and Baglihar reservoirs—an engineering process that enhances dam performance but also reduces downstream flow during discharge periods.
“We are well within our rights under the treaty. Monthly flushing is a technical requirement and a sovereign decision,” said a senior official familiar with the development.
Indus Treaty Tensions Resurface
Signed in 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty divides six rivers of the Indus basin between India and Pakistan. While India has consistently adhered to the treaty, there has been growing criticism that Pakistan uses it as a political tool to object to infrastructure projects on India’s side, especially in Jammu & Kashmir.
Recent geopolitical friction has added urgency to Delhi’s decision to assert hydrological rights, particularly over rivers allocated to India, including the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
Environmental and Security Considerations
The monthly flushing plan will also address sedimentation concerns, which impact reservoir capacity and power generation. Additionally, officials indicate that water regulation is being re-evaluated from both a strategic and environmental perspective, given changing climate patterns and regional instability.
