ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): In an obvious violation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), India has finally given approval to the Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project on the Chenab River in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), Pakistani media reported Sunday.
The work on the disputed hydropower project, costing 3,277.45 crore Indian rupees, could be started early next year. The project will be developed by a public sector Indian company, NHPC Limited, according to the sources.
Local media quoted sources to state that the Dulhasti Stage-II project will generate up to 260 megawatts of electricity.
India’s decision is to be interpreted in the context of its strategy to keep the IWT in abeyance following the Pahalgam incident, which led to the cross-border clashes between the two nuclear-armed neighbours after the former launched attacks inside Pakistan, prompting Islamabad to retaliate.
Despite India’s decision, Pakistan has expressed its commitment to the treaty, announcing that it will continue to fully participate in the Neutral Expert proceedings in good faith.
In August, the Permanent Court of Arbitration had declared that India shall “let flow” the waters of the western rivers for Pakistan’s unrestricted use.
Chenab River Basin
According to the media reports, the waters of the Chenab River Basin have been shared between Pakistan and India under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, but the Dulhasti Stage-II project has been transgressing the provisions of the treaty.
Under the treaty, Pakistan has control over the waters of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers, while the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers were under India’s control.
Following the illegal suspension of the IWT, India has fast-tracked several disputed hydroelectric projects in the Indus Basin. These projects include Sawalkot, Ratle, Bursar, Pakal Dul, Kwar, Kiru, and Kirthai-1 and 2. Dulhasti Stage-II is also considered part of this strategy.
The latest project on the Chenab River could be detrimental from a strategic point of view for Pakistan. The Chenab River falls within Pakistan’s territory, and Dulhasti Stage-II project would negate IWT, which India has declared as suspended by in defiance of the international agreements.
