New Delhi: In a strategic push that intertwines infrastructure development with evolving regional geopolitics, the Government of India has moved forward decisively on a large-scale hydroelectric project on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir. The ₹5,129 crore Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project designed to generate 1,856 megawatts of electricity has entered the tendering stage, marking a significant milestone in India’s utilisation of its water rights following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan.
The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC), India’s state-run power company, has issued a tender worth ₹5,129 crore for the construction of the Sawalkot scheme. The project’s tender process, which includes construction of the dam, tunnels and associated civil works, is slated to begin on March 12 and remain open until March 20, 2026, with bids valid for 180 days. The construction timeline extends to 3,285 days, translating to a multi-year build-out with long-term regional impact.
The Sawalkot project is designed to be one of the largest run-of-the-river hydropower installations in the region once completed. By generating nearly 1,900 MW of clean energy, it aims to bolster power supply in Jammu and Kashmir and contribute significantly to the northern power grid. Officials say the initiative will also spur local economic activity, create employment opportunities, and enhance infrastructure in Ramban district, where the project site is located.
State authorities and power planners have viewed Sawalkot as a long-pending project that has gained renewed urgency in the context of India’s broader energy and water security strategy. The federal government has already accelerated work on other hydropower projects on the Chenab system, including Pakal Dul, Kiru, Ratle, and Kwar, as part of a coordinated effort to rapidly expand the region’s hydroelectric capacity.
India’s decision to fast-track the Sawalkot project comes against the backdrop of a dramatic diplomatic shift. In April 2025, the Government of India placed the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) the 1960 water-sharing pact with Pakistan in abeyance, citing sustained cross-border terrorism as grounds for suspending the agreement’s implementation. As a result, India now exercises greater freedom to design and initiate water infrastructure projects on the western rivers of the Indus basin, including the Chenab.
Under the original treaty framework, India had limited rights over the western rivers, with provisions largely restricting it to run-of-river projects that did not involve substantial water storage. The suspension of the treaty has effectively lifted long-standing constraints on project design and execution, enabling New Delhi to act without the treaty’s oversight mechanisms.
The announcement has elicited strong reactions from Pakistan, where policymakers and water experts have voiced serious concerns about India’s assertive hydropower push. Islamabad has accused New Delhi of “weaponising” shared waters and undermining Pakistan’s water security, as agriculture and irrigation in the downstream country depend heavily on flows from the Indus basin rivers, including the Chenab. Pakistan has also taken the dispute to legal forums, asserting that India’s actions violate the treaty’s spirit despite its suspension.
Analysts note that projects like Sawalkot could give India enhanced leverage over river-flow regulation upstream, a capability Pakistan has historically protested. Once infrastructure such as large diversion works or storage facilities are built, the upstream nation gains greater control over when and how much water is released downstream a dynamic that has heightened anxieties in Islamabad.
While political and strategic narratives dominate much of the discourse, environmental and engineering experts stress the need for careful ecological management. Constructing major hydroelectric projects in the Himalayan region carries inherent risks, including landslides, seismic vulnerabilities, and impacts on fragile ecosystems. Long-term environmental impact assessments, mitigation measures, and community engagement will be critical as these projects advance.
India’s push to expedite the Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project reflects a broader recalibration of its approach to water resources, climate needs, and regional power dynamics. As construction proceeds over the coming years, the project is likely to remain a focal point of both domestic development planning and diplomatic engagement with Pakistan. Its progress and outcomes may influence how South Asian water governance evolves in an era of shifting geopolitical realities and pressing energy demands.