Sawalkote and New Hydropower Projects in J&K: What They Mean Under the Indus Waters Treaty
The Union Power Secretary said the Centre is considering new hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Sawalkote project on the Chenab river. Talks on Sawalkote are going on, and the Centre intends to take it up soon.
Work on four big projects in the Chenab basin is already moving ahead: Ratle (850 MW), Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Kiru (624 MW) and Kwar (540 MW). Their power will serve J&K and other states.
Sawalkote is a planned 1,856 MW run-of-the-river project in Ramban district, to be built by NHPC. It got a fresh environmental clearance from an expert committee of the Union Environment Ministry in October 2025.
Pakistan has objected to Sawalkote. Its Indus Water Commissioner wrote to India in July 2025 and again in February 2026, asking for information and consultation under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
India has kept the IWT "in abeyance" (on hold) since 23 April 2025, after the terror attack at Pahalgam. India says it will stay on hold until Pakistan credibly ends its support for cross-border terrorism.
On 31 August 2026, a Court of Arbitration at The Hague said the treaty "remains fully in force". India rejected the ruling and does not accept that court's jurisdiction (its legal power to decide the case).
Indus Waters Treaty, 1960
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is an agreement between India and Pakistan on how to share the water of the Indus river system. It divides six rivers into two groups. India got full use of the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej). Pakistan got most of the use of the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), while India can use them in limited ways. The World Bank helped the two countries reach this deal.
Sawalkote is on the Chenab, a western river, so its design was covered by the treaty's strict rules. Pakistan's 2025 and 2026 letters asked for consultation under the treaty, but India treats the treaty as on hold. The Centre's push for Sawalkote and the four Chenab projects shows India now plans to use the western rivers more fully.
Run-of-the-River Hydropower: How India Uses the Western Rivers
A run-of-the-river hydropower plant makes electricity from the natural flow of a river, without holding back large amounts of water in a big reservoir. A small dam or barrage turns some of the river's water into a tunnel or channel. The water drops through turbines to make power and then goes back into the river. Under the Indus Waters Treaty, this is the main kind of power plant India was allowed to build on the western rivers.
Sawalkote is a large run-of-the-river project on the Chenab, which is why Pakistan sought consultation under the treaty's Annexure D rules. With the treaty in abeyance, India is moving ahead with Sawalkote and speeding up the four other Chenab projects to use more of the river's power potential.
- Sawalkote: 1,856 MW run-of-the-river project on the Chenab, Ramban district, J&K; developer NHPC
- Ongoing Chenab projects: Ratle 850 MW, Pakal Dul 1,000 MW, Kiru 624 MW, Kwar 540 MW
- Pakistan's letters on Sawalkote: July 2025 and 11 February 2026
- Indus Waters Treaty signed 19 September 1960; held in abeyance by India from 23 April 2025
- Court of Arbitration award of 31 August 2026 said the treaty "remains fully in force"; India rejected it
- J&K reached its first 100 MW milestone under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (rooftop solar), with about 50 lakh beneficiaries nationwide