India tightens water chokehold on Pakistan, shuts Baglihar dam gates

Two days after carrying out a de-silting operation in the reservoir of the Baglihar dam on the Chenab, the sluice gates of the reservoir have been shut to hold back the water, restricting the flow towards Pakistan — at least temporarily.

With the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) being held in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack, India need not inform its western neighbour about the opening and closing of the sluice gates. Earlier such activities used to be informed across the border through an established mechanism. Sources said during the de-silting process, the gates of the reservoir were thrown open two days ago, causing swelling of the Chenab in Pakistan.

Normally, the de-silting process used to take place during the peak monsoon season, specifically in August. This is not the first time that de-silting has been done or the gates have been closed for filling water in the reservoir.

Since the peak filling season for dams in North India is between May 20 and September 20 each year, the process of filling the Baglihar’s reservoir at this time of the year will take longer than what it takes in August.

The Baglihar reservoir can hold 475 million cubic metres of water. It has an installed power generation capacity of 900 megawatt — 450 MW across two phases. With high silt content, the power production drops and a periodical flush-out is needed.

Data from the Central Electricity Authority shows that last year, the Baglihar Phase one generated 2,707 gigawatt hour (GWh) power. That was 104 per cent of the laid-down target. The Phase two of the project generated 1,535 GWh of power (102 per cent of the target). These indicate the reservoir is filled up in routine to generate power through turbines.

Being a run-of-the-river project, Baglihar’s reservoir is small when compared with others like the Bhakra Dam, which is designed to hold 9.3 billion cubic metres of water. In comparison, the Baglihar is 20 times smaller than the Bhakra.

As per a study on the project by senior geologists from the University of Jammu, the field investigation of the reservoir area of Baglihar project showed that the sediment in the reservoir depends on fragile rock type like shale, sandstones, phyllites and slates. The area has steep hills that are prone to landslides. “The rocks are highly weathered, fissile and micaceous in nature and very sensitive to water absorption,” the study stated.

India is planning similar measures at the Kishanganga Dam on the Jhelum river, a source said. The source familiar with the matter said these hydroelectric dams — Baglihar in Ramban in Jammu and Kishanganga in north Kashmir — offer India the ability to regulate the timing of water releases.

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, has governed the use of the Indus river and its tributaries between India and Pakistan since 1960.

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