Prelims perspective: What need to learned
- What is a Run off River Project
- Location: On Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir
- Indus Water Treaty
- Similar Hydrel projects in the Region
Mains Perspective: Note need to be prepared
- India-Pakistan Relations and Indus Water Treaty (GS II- International Relations)
Prelims Fact:
- Sawalkote, Ratle, Bursar, Pakal Dul, Kwar, Kiru, and Kirthai I and II Hydel projects: on Chenab and its Tributaries
What needs to be Known:
- What is a Run off River Project:
- A hydroelectric project generates power using the natural flow of a river without large dams or reservoirs for long-term storage.
- The river water is diverted to a penstock and utilised for operating the turbines for electricity generation and the water is released back to the river.
- Indus Water Treaty (IWT):
- It was signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan with World Bank mediation, allocating waters of the Indus River system to resolve post-partition disputes.
- India controls the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) for unrestricted use.
- Pakistan manages the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), allocated 80%, with India permitted limited irrigation and unlimited non-consumptive uses like hydropower.
- India has suspended the IWT in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025.
Source: The Hindu