INDIA, May 5 (Alliance News): India has begun sediment flushing at two key hydroelectric projects in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), bypassing provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty for the first time since its inception in 1960, Reuters reported on Sunday, citing unnamed sources.
The operations at the Salal and Baglihar hydropower plants began on May 1 and lasted for three days, marking a major shift in India’s stance on cross-border water sharing.
The move follows India’s suspension of the treaty in April, after a deadly attack in IIOJK killed 26 people, with New Delhi blaming Pakistan for the assault—an accusation Islamabad strongly denies.
According to the report, the “reservoir flushing” aims to remove sediment buildup that has long hampered energy output from the dams.
However, such an operation had previously been blocked under the treaty, which prevented India from undertaking activities that could alter the flow or storage of water on rivers allocated to Pakistan.
This marks the first time since the construction of Salal in 1987 and Baglihar in 2008/09 that India has carried out such work without informing Pakistan—something required under the terms of the treaty.
Experts say while the current move may not immediately affect Pakistan’s water supplies, it sets a precedent for similar future actions. Pakistan relies heavily on rivers originating in Indian-administered territory for agriculture and power generation.
Islamabad has condemned India’s decision to suspend the treaty and warned that any attempt to divert or block water meant for Pakistan would be considered an “act of war.” Officials in Pakistan have threatened to seek international legal action to prevent further escalation.
People living along the Chenab River in IIOJK confirmed noticing significant water release from the dams during the flushing operation.
Kushvinder Vohra, former head of India’s Central Water Commission, commented that India is now free to move ahead with water projects at its “own will” after suspending the treaty. He added that the government has long sought to renegotiate terms of the 1960 agreement.
India’s Water Minister has also vowed publicly that “not a drop” of Indus River water should be allowed to reach Pakistan.
The dispute over the Indus Waters Treaty had already reached the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague over other controversial projects like Kishenganga and Ratle, with Pakistan objecting to the design and storage capacity of the dams.
