Sports desk
27 April
Sandeep Dhand
Journalist and Research Analysist
After the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India has taken strict action. One major step is halting cooperation under the Indus Water Treaty. If Pakistan does not change its behavior, it could be forced to struggle for every drop of water. But do you know that if the Indus Treaty is completely cancelled, Kashmir could turn into a major electricity center for India? Here’s why.
Pakistan heavily depends on the Indus River. According to media reports, around 130 million acre-feet of water from the western rivers goes to Pakistan. About 80% of Pakistan’s agriculture relies on this water. If India permanently stops this water, it would be highly beneficial for India. We would gain more water for irrigation, helping our farmers.
10,000 Megawatts of Power Possible
As per reports, cancelling the 1960 agreement would speed up many hydroelectric projects on the Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus rivers, which were stuck due to treaty restrictions. India will no longer need to inform Pakistan about these projects or share river data. Also, there will be no annual meetings regarding water sharing. This move will solve the water shortage in Jammu and Kashmir and can provide around 10,000 megawatts of electricity to the Himalayan region.
Kashmir Will Become a Power Hub
The biggest change will come with the construction of hydroelectric projects and water storage facilities on the Chenab and Jhelum rivers. Important projects include the 540 MW Kwar, 1000 MW Pakal Dul, 624 MW Kiru, 390 MW Kirthai-1, 930 MW Kirthai-2, and 1856 MW Sawalkot. These projects alone can produce over 3,000 megawatts of power. As a result, Jammu and Kashmir’s electricity generation capacity will increase by nearly 10,000 million units, making it a true power hub for India.