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Baglihar Dam Gates Stay Closed a Year After Indus Waters Treaty Suspension

All gates of the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River remain closed a year after the Indus Waters Treaty was suspended following the Pahalgam attack. The closure highlights the sustained impact on water management and hydroelectric operations in the region. The treaty, signed in 1960, allocated Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan while allowing India limited use and hydroelectric generation. India has developed major projects on Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to utilize its allocated waters.

Key Points: Baglihar Dam Gates Closed After Indus Treaty Suspension

  • All gates of Baglihar Dam remain closed for over a year
  • Treaty suspended after Pahalgam terror attack
  • Dam crucial for hydroelectric power and water regulation on Chenab
  • India retains limited rights under treaty for Western Rivers
2 min read

J-K: All gates of Baglihar Dam on Chenab remain closed even a year after Indus Waters Treaty suspension

All gates of Baglihar Dam on Chenab remain closed for a year after Indus Waters Treaty suspension post-Pahalgam attack, impacting water management.

"The continued closure of the gates highlights the sustained impact of the treaty's suspension on water management and hydroelectric operations in the region. - Article"

Ramban, May 3

All gates of the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River in Ramban district continue to remain closed even a year after the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, which was put on hold following the Pahalgam attack.

The continued closure of the gates highlights the sustained impact of the treaty's suspension on water management and hydroelectric operations in the region. The Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project, a key infrastructure on the Chenab River, has remained under close monitoring since the decision was taken in the wake of the attack.

The Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the sharing of river waters between India and Pakistan, was suspended following the Pahalgam attack, marking a significant shift in bilateral water-sharing arrangements.

The Baglihar Dam, located in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir, plays a crucial role in hydroelectric power generation and water regulation on the Chenab River. The closure of its gates is being seen as part of broader measures linked to the treaty suspension.

Despite reaching out to an agreement on the cessation of hostilities, the Indian government's position on the Indus Waters Treaty remains unchanged, with the agreement still in abeyance following the terror attack in Pahalgam.

The Indus system comprises the main Indus River, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The basin is mainly shared by India and Pakistan, with a small share for China and Afghanistan.

Under the Indus Waters Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of three rivers, namely Ravi, Sutlej and Beas ( Eastern Rivers), averaging around 33 million acre feet ( MAF) were allocated to India for exclusive use.

The western rivers--Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab--carrying an average flow of around 135 MAF, were allocated to Pakistan, while India retained limited rights for domestic, non-consumptive, and agricultural use as specified under the treaty.

India has also been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run-of-the-river (RoR) projects on the Western Rivers, subject to specific criteria for design and operation, which are unrestricted.

To fully utilise the eastern river waters allocated to it, India has developed major infrastructure projects including the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej, Pong and Pandoh dams on the Beas, and Thein (Ranjit Sagar) Dam on the Ravi.

These storage works, together with other works like Beas-Sutlej Link, Madhopur-Beas Link, Indira Gandhi Nahar Project etc has helped India utilise most of the waters of waters of Eastern rivers.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good strategic move, but I hope we have proper plans for using this water effectively. Closing gates is one thing, but we need to ensure the water benefits our people in J&K and downstream. Also, we should be careful - international law and water treaties are complex. Hope our diplomatic team is handling the legal aspects properly.
R
Ramesh W
Bahut accha hua! (Very good!) Finally we are using our geographical advantage. The Chenab is our river, flowing through our territory. We should maximize its benefits. But I'm worried about downstream flooding if we keep all gates closed during peak snowmelt season. Hope engineers are monitoring the dam safety properly. Safety first!
S
Siddharth J
This is great for our water security, but we need to think long-term. Pakistan will cry foul at international forums, and we need solid legal backup. Also, the environmental impact on the Chenab ecosystem needs assessment. But overall, I support this - national security and water rights come first. Jai Hind! 🙏
S
Sneha F
I'm happy to see India asserting its rights, but I also feel for the people downstream in Pakistan who depend on this water. They are also victims of their government's terrorism policies. However, India cannot keep being the generous neighbor while being stabbed in the back. Water is a strategic asset, and we must use it wisely. Hope this leads to better border security and peace in the long run.
J
James A
Interesting development. While this is clearly a political response to the Pahalgam attack, I wonder about the technical feasibility of keeping all gates closed year-round. The Chenab has significant seasonal variations in flow. Silting and sediment management could become

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