Ramban, May 14, 2025 — The Baglihar Hydroelectric Project, located on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district, has kept all its dam gates closed for the second consecutive day, as part of controlled water management efforts. The closure follows recent heavy rainfall in the region, which had earlier prompted authorities to open the floodgates on May 8, raising concerns over potential flooding downstream.
Controlled Measures Following Rainfall Surge
The decision to open the Baglihar Dam gates earlier this month was taken to regulate excess water flow resulting from unseasonal and intense rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir. With rainfall levels now stabilizing, dam authorities have closed all gates to maintain reservoir levels and manage downstream flow.
Indus Waters Treaty: Strategic Context
The Baglihar project remains a focal point in the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) framework—an agreement signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 with the World Bank as a guarantor. The treaty allocates usage rights of six rivers:
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Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej): allocated to India, totaling around 33 Million Acre Feet (MAF)
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Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab): allocated primarily to Pakistan, averaging around 135 MAF
While India retains exclusive rights to use the eastern rivers, it is permitted to build run-of-the-river (RoR) hydroelectric projects on the western rivers under strict design and operational constraints to ensure compliance.
Strategic Importance of Baglihar and Other Projects
Under the IWT framework, India has constructed several major water infrastructure projects:
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Bhakra Dam on Sutlej
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Pong and Pandoh Dams on Beas
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Thein Ranjitsagar Dam on Ravi
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Beas-Sutlej Link, Madhopur-Beas Link, and the Indira Gandhi Canal Project
These infrastructure initiatives have enabled India to utilize nearly the entire volume of eastern rivers, bolstering agricultural, power generation, and irrigation potential in key regions.
Tensions Over Treaty Status Post-Pahalgam Attack
Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India suspended engagement on certain IWT mechanisms, leading to a freeze in bilateral dialogue over water-sharing protocols. Despite the current ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, the status of the treaty remains in a strategic limbo, with India maintaining a firm stance on its interpretation and application of treaty provisions.
Outlook
As monsoon approaches, water level management and flood control across Himalayan rivers, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, will be critical. Projects like Baglihar not only serve as power generators but are also vital components of India’s strategic hydro-policy under the evolving geopolitical and environmental landscape.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
