JAMMU, May 4: The Indian authorities have restricted the flow of water through the Baglihar and Salal hydro-electric dams over Chenab river and is planning similar measures at the Kishanganga Dam over Jhelum river in Jammu and Kashmir.Official sources told the Excelsior that these hydroelectric power dams, Baglihar in Ramban, Salal in Reasi and Kishanganga in Kashmir, offer India the ability to regulate the timing of water release. India’s decision to suspend the decades old treaty follows the killing of 26 people, mostly tourists, in a terror attack at Pahalgam.
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), brokered by the World Bank, has governed the use of the Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan since 1960.
The Baglihar Dam in district Ramban near Chanderkote has been a longstanding point of contention between the two neighbours, with Pakistan having sought World Bank arbitration in the past.
The Kishanganga Dam has faced legal and diplomatic scrutiny, especially regarding its impact on the Neelum river, a tributary of the Jhelum river.
A senior official in the Administration at Ramban said that the water from Baglihar reservoir was stopped during early morning on Sunday as all the dam gates were closed. A couple of days ago, there was heavy rain in the upper reaches and the gates were opened to allow water flow towards Reasi and the water flow was again suspended from Salal dam. The flood like situation was created in low lying areas of Reasi and Akhnoor. It caused some damage in Pakistan.
But this morning, the Baglihar dam gates were closed and the water flow was totally stopped. With this the Chenab river bed at Ramban and down-stream turned totally dry. The water flow from Salal dam in Reasi has also been reduced and the water level at Akhnoor and Jourian has also considerably reduced. It has aggravated water crisis in Pakistan.
Sources said that it takes about three days for creating sufficient pondage at Baglihar Dam. A large lake is created even ahead of Pul Doda, almost near Prem Nagar town in district Doda along Batote-Kishtwar road.
A senior NHPC official at Salal Hydroelectric Project in Reasi, without being quoted said that there was rain in the upper reaches of Doda and Kishtwar and reservoir at Baglihar was filled up to top. The silt is created with floods and the flushing exercise becomes necessary. For this reason, the gates are first opened to flush out the silt and mud and then closed. After this the river at the downstream turns dry and it takes some time to refill the reservoir.
While downplaying the issue related to water restrictions, the NHPC official further said hardly two days ago heavy flood was witnessed in Akhnoor and Jourian areas in river Chenab. The gates were opened at Salal dam after the dam was filled. The silt was flushed out and it is continuing process. He avoided to comment on the violation of Indus Water Treaty and said that they are duty bound to follow instructions from the Government of India, but it is not practically possible to fully restrict/ stop Chenab water at this juncture. Some measures are needed for it which are time consuming and need huge funds as well.
The sources disclosed that the Indian authorities are contemplating to construct another large canal from Akhnoor to irrigate the remaining areas of district Jammu up to Ramgarh and parts of Samba and Kathus districts.The feasibility is also being examined to upgrade the old Partap Canal falling in Akhnoor, Jourian and parts of Khour area and take away water up to tail end. Not only this, the authorities are also planning to provide benefit of Chenab water to about 35 villages of Pargwal sector and Kandi belt of Gharota and Kot Bhalwal, the sources added.
