India has approved the Dulhasti Stage II hydropower project on the Chenab River in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, a move Pakistan views as a clear violation of the Indus Waters Treaty. The decision has triggered fresh concerns over water security and regional stability.
New Delhi granted final clearance for the project, which is expected to generate up to 260 megawatts of electricity and will be built in territory under India’s illegal occupation. Pakistani officials say the approval disregards treaty obligations governing shared river resources.
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The project carries an estimated cost of 327.745 billion Indian rupees, with construction likely to begin early next year. India’s state-owned NHPC Limited will develop the project, further strengthening New Delhi’s control over key hydropower infrastructure in the disputed region.
Experts warn that the project poses serious strategic and defensive risks for Pakistan, as the Chenab River is among the waterways allocated to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty. They argue the move undermines the treaty’s spirit, which India recently announced it was unilaterally suspending.
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Under the Dulhasti Stage II plan, India will reuse infrastructure from the existing Dulhasti Stage I project, including the dam, reservoir, and power intake systems. The earlier 390-megawatt project, completed in 2007, operates under a run-of-the-river scheme.
Analysts believe the latest approval could further strain already tense Pakistan-India relations, especially amid growing disputes over water rights. Islamabad is expected to raise the issue at diplomatic and international forums to safeguard its treaty-based interests.