Context
Suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) has allowed two long-pending water projects in J&K to finally move forward.
Key Projects
- Tulbul Navigation Barrage (Jhelum, near Sopore)
• Purpose: Regulate water levels in Wular Lake → ensure navigation + enhance winter electricity generation. - Chenab Lift Water Supply Project (near Akhnoor → Jammu City)
Indus Water Treaty
• Signed in 1960 between India & Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank.
Allocated:
• Eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) → India
• Western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) → Pakistan (with limited use allowed to India)
• India was allowed only run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects on western rivers; could not create storage or regulate flows.
Suspension
• India placed the treaty in abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack (April 22, last year).
• This removed procedural barriers that previously prevented the two projects from being approved or funded.
