Chenab Hydropower Project Approved as India Pushes Ahead Amid Indus Treaty Pause

India’s decision to approve a major hydropower project on the Chenab River has triggered sharp reactions in Pakistan, intensifying tensions between the two neighbours at a time when the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) remains in abeyance. The Centre has cleared the 260-megawatt Dulhasti Stage-II hydropower project in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district, signalling a renewed push to harness the full potential of the Indus River system.

The approval comes months after India put the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty on hold following the Pakistan-sponsored terror attack in Pahalgam in April. Since then, New Delhi has accelerated efforts to develop hydropower projects on the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum and Chenab—aimed at strengthening energy security and asserting sovereign rights over water resources.

The Dulhasti Stage-II project, cleared by a panel of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change earlier this month, is designed as a run-of-the-river project. Such projects were permitted even when the treaty was operational, as they do not involve large-scale water storage or diversion. Despite this, Islamabad has accused India of “weaponising water” and violating international commitments.

Pakistan’s political leadership reacted strongly to the clearance. Senior leaders alleged that India’s move threatens downstream water availability, particularly during the critical agricultural sowing season. Pakistani media outlets echoed these claims, warning of potential impacts on farming, food security and economic stability. Islamabad has also raised the issue at international forums, alleging deliberate manipulation of river flows.

Indian officials, however, maintain that the project complies with established technical norms and does not infringe upon downstream rights. Government sources emphasise that Dulhasti Stage-II is an extension of the existing 390-MW Dulhasti Stage-I project, which has been operational since 2007. The new stage will divert water from the existing facility through a dedicated tunnel system to generate additional power without altering natural river flow patterns.

The project is estimated to cost over ₹3,200 crore and will involve the construction of an underground powerhouse housing two 130-MW units. Around 60 hectares of land will be required, including limited private land acquisition from nearby villages in Kishtwar. Once completed, the project is expected to significantly boost regional power generation and reduce reliance on external energy sources.

Dulhasti Stage-II is part of a broader hydropower push in the Indus basin following the treaty pause. Other major projects being fast-tracked include Sawalkote, Ratle, Pakal Dul, Bursar, Kiru, Kwar, and Kirthai I and II. The Sawalkote project, in particular, has been designated as a project of national importance.

With the treaty suspended, India is no longer obligated to share real-time hydrological data or notify Pakistan about new project construction. Pakistan, in response, has warned that any sustained disruption of river flows would be viewed as hostile, even invoking the language of conflict. New Delhi, however, has consistently stated that its actions are lawful, strategic, and aimed at optimising resources within its territory.

As both sides harden their positions, the Chenab project has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the long-running water dispute, underscoring how energy security, geopolitics and regional stability are increasingly intertwined.