New Delhi:
India suspended Indus Water Treaty With Pakistan – in the first round of vertical measures for Pahgam Terror Attack – The government has started increasing the reservoir storage capabilities in two hydroelectric projects in Kashmir, sources told NDTV.
In particular, ‘reservoir flushing’ – that is, removal of sediment – was done in Salal and Baglihar projects by the National Hydropower Electricity Corporation run by the state last week.
The government is also expected to accelerate the construction of six stald projects in the region – 1,856 MW projects in Solcot, Kirathai I and I facilities that will produce a combined 1,320 MW and 1,000 MW in Pakal Dal, along with three others, along with a total of 2,224 MW.
Once these six are completed, Jammu and Kashmir can generate electricity up to 10,000 MW, and the plains may have more water for irrigation and domestic consumption.
This is all important because if the Indus Water Treaty, or IWT, were still on, India would have to give six months notice to Pakistan before starting construction, during the time Islamabad would have faced several legal challenges to delay or cancel projects.
NDTV explains. Indus water treaty, division, plan, culinary effect
Flushing of reservoirs was important for the same reason; India had not been able to clean them since being built in 1987 and 2009 as it was prohibited by IWT.
Flushing was banned as downstream countries, in this case the Pak could face floods and destruction of property by the ongoing water. It also leads to wastage.
However, sources told the Reuters that finally being able to carry out flushing exercises will “help more efficient power generation and will help the turbines to prevent damage”. It was reported that 690 MW Salal and 900 MW Baglihar were working well below the capacity.
There is a possibility of a major meeting between Home Minister Amit Shah, Water Resources Minister CR Patil, Power Minister ML Khattar, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Chauhan and senior officials of each ministry this week, regarding the construction starting on six projects.
Two meetings – have already been done between Mr. Shah, Mr. Patil and his ministry officials, including other possible activities, including Chenb (allotted to India under IWT) and Jhelum (for Pakistan) rivers and other possible activities including reviving the Wular Lake.
India suspends IWT
India suspended IWT with Pakistan on 24 April, not a drop of water. IWT is an important agreement for Pakistan; It divides the Indus River and its five major tributaries between India and themselves, and supplies about 80 percent of the fields of that country.
Pakistan, in turn, threatened legal action as it denied any role in the Pahalgam attack, warned, “Any attempt to prevent or remove water related to Pakistan … would be a war work”.
The Indus Water Treaty gives India the authority over Sutlage, Beas and Chenab River (File).
Since India has suspended IWT, it has been talked about how India can effectively stop the flow of water in Pakistan, as Delhi has attempted to put non-monitoring pressure on Islamabad to prevent activity from the state-provided terrorist border.
The general opinion is that India cannot stop the flow of water immediately – for the simple reason that there are no reservoirs to store the surplus. This morning, however, Delhi stopped water for some time through Baglihar Dam. This was a temporary step because the reservoir could only have a limited capacity.
Read | India’s water warning to Pakistan because it blocks the dam on the chain
However, amidst stress in view of Pahalgam, this is a clear warning sign for Pakistan.
The Chenab, on which the Baglihar Dam is built is a ‘Western River’. Pakistan deserves its unrestricted use. India can use it only for agriculture, hydroelectric projects, or other ‘non-individual use’.
Overall, the construction of dams and reservoirs was banned, or at least regulated under IWT; On the three rivers allocated to Pakistan, for example, India can only manufacture plants without large storage facilities.
But now, if India pushes water in Pakistan with its danger to cut water completely, more dams and reservoirs will have to be constructed, and suspension means that India can now “in will”, former Kushwinder Vohra, former head of Central Water Commission, who worked on Indus disputes.
India’s military reaction?
Meanwhile, discussions about India’s possible military response to the attack continue, claiming an offshoot by Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Tabiba.
Read | PM’s independent hand for forces to respond to J&K attack: source
India has said that it is evidence that Pakistan Deep State was involved in this attack.
Read | Pakistan ‘Moscow, London one of the world’s most dangerous, terrorist scars’
Last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave an independent hand to the alleged armed forces in planning and executing the response. What can be the reaction this morning, between speculation on it Mr. Modi met Defense Secretary Rajesh Kumar SinghA day later he spoke with Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh.
After another Pak-based terror group in 2019, 40 soldiers killed in Pulwama, Jaish-e-Mohammed-Jammu and Kashmir, India launched Accurate air attack in terrorist camps in Balkot in Pakistan.
NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click the link To get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.
