India begins hydro project flushing in Kashmir amid Indus treaty suspension

Reservoir flushing at Salal and Baglihar dams marks India’s first move beyond Indus Waters Treaty following Pakistan-linked attack.

Labourers walk across a bridge near the 450-megawatt hydropower project at Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River, which flows from Indian Kashmir into Pakistan, in Chanderkote, about 145 km north of Jammu, on October 10, 2008. Photo by Amit Gupta/Reuters

By Anna Fadiah and Hayu Andini

India has launched a major hydro engineering operation in Kashmir by flushing sediment from the reservoirs of two key hydroelectric projects—Salal and Baglihar—after suspending its decades-old water-sharing agreement with Pakistan. The move, confirmed by three senior sources familiar with the matter, signals New Delhi’s first concrete action outside the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), which had governed river usage between the two nuclear-armed nations since 1960.

The operation comes on the heels of fresh geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan. Last month, New Delhi halted the treaty after two of the three suspects in an attack that killed 26 people in Kashmir were identified as Pakistani nationals. Pakistan, denying any involvement, has called the treaty suspension a provocation and threatened legal retaliation.

The flushing process, which began on May 1 and ran for three days, was carried out by NHPC Ltd, India’s largest hydropower utility, in coordination with local authorities in Jammu and Kashmir. This procedure, which removes accumulated silt and improves turbine efficiency, marks the first time such maintenance has been undertaken since the Salal and Baglihar dams were commissioned in 1987 and 2008/09, respectively.

Dam operations proceed without treaty constraints

Under the Indus Waters Treaty, India was restricted from performing sediment flushing that could affect downstream flows into Pakistan. With the treaty now suspended, Indian officials proceeded without notifying Islamabad. A source involved in the operation explained that opening the adjustable gates was a move toward restoring full operational flexibility at the dams.

“This is the first time such an exercise has taken place and will help in more efficient power generation and prevent damage to turbines,” the source told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. “We were also asked to open the adjustable gates for cleaning, which we did from May 1.”

Footage shared by local residents along the Indian side of the Chenab River showed dramatic changes in water flow, with some stretches rushing at full force while others were partially obstructed by sediment piles.

Pakistan’s irrigation still safe for now—but risks loom

Although the immediate impact of India’s hydro project flushing in Kashmir may not pose a direct threat to Pakistan’s irrigation systems, the precedent is significant. Pakistan heavily depends on river flows originating in India to irrigate about 80% of its agricultural land and for hydropower. Any large-scale repetition of such operations at other dams could severely affect downstream water availability.

According to one expert source, more than half a dozen hydroelectric projects across Kashmir could follow the same pattern now that the treaty has been sidelined. “Flushing is not a common thing because it leads to a lot of water wastage,” the source said. “Downstream countries are expected to be informed in case it leads to any inundation.”

Under normal circumstances, India would have been required to inform Pakistan about such operations, especially if they posed any risk of flooding or major flow changes. However, with the treaty suspended, such protocols appear to have been discarded.

Sediment build-up had weakened output at key dams

The 690-megawatt Salal and 900-megawatt Baglihar projects had both seen power generation drop significantly in recent years due to unchecked sediment accumulation. Sources noted that flushing had been long overdue but was previously blocked by the treaty provisions.

Pakistan’s opposition to sediment flushing stemmed from concerns over sudden fluctuations in river flow, which could damage crops, infrastructure, or ecosystems downstream. But Indian officials now argue that without regular flushing, power generation efficiency plummets and turbines suffer long-term damage.

“This move was essential not just for power output but for the very viability of the dams,” one of the sources stated. “Pakistan’s objections had held us back for decades.”

Political signals behind hydro move

India’s decision to begin hydro project flushing in Kashmir following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty is also seen as a strong political message. In a statement last month, Indian water minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat declared that New Delhi would now ensure “not a drop of the Indus River’s water reaches Pakistan.”

The statement marks a significant hardening of India’s stance. Though the treaty allowed for limited use of the western rivers by India—primarily through run-of-river projects that don’t involve large reservoirs—there is now momentum toward renegotiating or even ignoring these historical limitations altogether.

Kushvinder Vohra, a former head of India’s Central Water Commission who worked on the Indus Treaty negotiations, said the suspension allows India to operate “at free will.”

“This opens the door for India to build and operate projects based on its own needs, not under constraints negotiated during a different era,” Vohra said.

Legal and diplomatic showdown looms

Pakistan, for its part, has vowed to challenge the move on legal grounds, warning that any effort to reduce or divert its water supply will be treated as an act of war. Islamabad has also suggested it may approach the International Court of Justice or the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague to enforce the treaty.

Legal proceedings are already underway at The Hague concerning the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric plants, with Pakistan arguing that India’s projects exceed permissible storage levels under the treaty.

India, however, maintains that all its projects are compliant with the letter of the treaty and blames Pakistan for stalling mutually beneficial cooperation by raising objections and dragging cases into international courts.

Future of the Indus Waters Treaty uncertain

Signed in 1960 with World Bank mediation, the Indus Waters Treaty divided the six rivers of the Indus basin between India and Pakistan. The eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) were assigned to India, and the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan—with limited usage rights for India.

Despite wars and border clashes, the treaty endured for more than six decades, often hailed as one of the world’s most successful water-sharing agreements. However, India’s hydro project flushing in Kashmir may now signal a permanent departure from that era of cooperation.

Water experts warn that any unilateral moves by either side could destabilize regional peace, especially in a climate-stressed world where water security is becoming a flashpoint.

“India has made the first move,” one water policy expert in New Delhi said. “What happens next could reshape the entire framework of South Asia’s river diplomacy.”