India Readies For Biggest Water Strike Against Pakistan Via Chenab | Explained | India News
When India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty in April this year following the Pahalgam terror attack, Pakistan was not only shocked but also inundated with verbal rhetoric. He warned India that without water there would be bloodshed in Chenab. But India remained firm and is now planning its biggest water strike against Pakistan. After nearly 40 years of uncertainty, India is set to revive one of its most ambitious hydropower ventures, the Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir. According to Indian Express, the expert evaluation committee of the Union Environment Ministry on river valley and hydropower projects recently recommended the environmental clearance project; This represents a major breakthrough in India’s water strategy along its western border.
Developed by NHPC Ltd, the 1,865 MW project is planned to be one of the largest hydropower plants in the west-flowing Chenab. Once completed, it will significantly increase India’s capacity to use river water for its own benefit.
A Project That Has Been Preparing for Forty Years
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First conceived in 1984, the Sawalkote project has faced many obstacles, from environmental concerns and seismic risks to political sensitivities associated with the Indus basin. The renewed authorization marks a decisive policy change.
The project design includes a 192.5-meter-high concrete gravity dam, spanning 1,159 hectares, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 530 million cubic meters. The project will be implemented in two phases: Phase I with an installed capacity of 1,406 MW, followed by Phase II, which adds another 450 MW.
Reports say that construction could begin as early as 2026 once all permitting and land acquisition processes are completed. The estimated cost is projected to exceed Rs 20,000 billion and NHPC is expected to undertake both construction and operation.
Strategic Importance
The renewed urgency on Sawalkote follows India’s decision to “delay” the Indus Waters Treaty after the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. The 1960 Agreement, brokered by the World Bank, gives Pakistan control over the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab rivers, while India retains its rights over the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej.
However, the agreement grants India limited rights to build run-of-river projects on western rivers for hydroelectric power generation; New Delhi is now willing to fully implement these rights. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs described the project as ‘strategic importance’ and said rapid implementation was ‘essential to harness the potential of the Chenab river’ given the ‘current geopolitical scenario’.
Hydroelectric Center Under Construction
The Chenab basin is already home to several large hydropower projects, making it the core region of India’s energy and strategic planning in Jammu and Kashmir. Among them:
* Dulhasti Project in Kishtwar (390 MW)
* Baglihar Project in Ramban (890 MW)
* Salal Project in Reasi (690 MW)
Together, these projects have transformed Chenab into a key pillar of India’s renewable energy infrastructure, as well as a strategic counterweight in regional water policies.
Experts say that once operational, Sawalkote will double India’s hydropower production from Chenab, thus providing better water regulation and flood control. It is also expected to provide thousands of local jobs and improve energy reliability in northern India.
New Phase in India’s Water Diplomacy
For India, the revival of Sawalkote is more than an infrastructure project; It represents a strategic assertion of hydrological rights within the framework of the Indus Waters Treaty. The Chenab River may soon become both a symbol of energy resilience and a tool of strategic leverage as the country looks to strengthen its renewable energy portfolio and strengthen its stance on water diplomacy with Pakistan. This will also enable India to have a greater capacity to retain Chenab water, which will be detrimental to Pakistan.
