India has formally initiated construction of the Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir, marking the first major hydropower project to move forward after New Delhi paused participation in the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. The Rs 5,129-crore project signals a decisive shift in India’s approach to river management on the western rivers.
Documents issued by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation show that bids were invited earlier this month to begin construction in Udhampur and Ramban districts. The project will be developed in two stages, with a planned capacity of 1,406 MW in the first phase and 450 MW in the second. It is designed as a run-of-the-river project, located between the Baglihar and Salal hydropower stations.
Fast-track clearance reflects strategic urgency
The project received environmental clearance late last year after review by an expert committee of the environment ministry. Planning documents indicate that construction methods and equipment selection have been finalised with the objective of rapid commissioning, reflecting the project’s strategic importance.
Officials estimate that while the full project may take up to nine years to complete, work will proceed throughout the year, with underground construction continuing even during the monsoon season. Surface construction will operate at reduced capacity during heavy rainfall months.
The Sawalkote project is part of a broader directive issued by the Centre to accelerate hydropower development across the Chenab basin, following rising geopolitical tensions and concerns over water security.
Chain of dams strengthens India’s control over river flow
Alongside Sawalkote, the government has set firm deadlines for several major projects on the Chenab system. The Pakal Dul project in Kishtwar, India’s first storage dam on a western river, has been ordered to be commissioned by December 2026. Once operational, it will allow India to regulate the timing of water release, a capability that carries both energy and strategic implications.
The Kiru project, another run-of-the-river dam in Kishtwar, is also scheduled for completion by December 2026, while the Kwar project is expected to be commissioned by March 2028. Construction has also been accelerated on the Ratle hydropower project, which has long been contested by Pakistan over design concerns.
Together, these projects form a cascading system that increases India’s ability to manage water flows within its territory while boosting electricity generation in the region.
Water security concerns heighten regional tensions
The Chenab is a critical component of the Indus basin, which supports the bulk of Pakistan’s agriculture and water infrastructure. A majority of Pakistan’s population depends directly or indirectly on water originating from rivers that flow through Indian territory.
India’s decision to suspend participation in Indus Waters Treaty proceedings after recent security incidents has heightened Islamabad’s concerns, particularly as construction activity on the Chenab intensifies. Indian officials maintain that all projects comply with international norms, while asserting sovereign rights over development within national boundaries.
As climate variability, glacial melt, and water stress increase across South Asia, control over river systems is emerging as a key strategic and disaster-risk issue, with long-term implications for regional stability, food security, and climate resilience.