India has initiated work to increase reservoir storage capacity at two major hydroelectric projects in the Himalayan region of Kashmir, according to sources familiar with the development, marking a significant move following renewed tensions with Pakistan. The decision comes in the wake of India suspending parts of the Indus Waters Treaty, a landmark water-sharing pact between the two countries.
The projects involved are located on rivers governed by the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), a World Bank-brokered agreement signed in 1960 that has withstood decades of conflict, including three wars and multiple skirmishes between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Under the treaty, India has rights over the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej), while Pakistan has control over the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), though India is allowed limited use for hydroelectric power generation under strict design constraints.
The current reservoir enhancement work represents the first visible deviation from India’s longstanding compliance with the treaty’s stipulations. According to the sources, the move signals a shift in New Delhi’s approach to water resource management and bilateral relations in the region, potentially altering the strategic balance of transboundary water flows into Pakistan.
India has grown increasingly frustrated with what it views as Pakistan’s repeated objections to Indian hydroelectric projects in Kashmir, as well as a lack of progress in bilateral talks. The decision to proceed with increased storage capacity may allow India greater flexibility in managing water flows, especially during dry seasons or times of political tension.
While Indian officials have not yet publicly confirmed the move, experts suggest it could prompt diplomatic protests from Islamabad and may further strain already fraught relations between the two neighbours.