Why in News
India is advancing the 930 MW Kirthai-II hydroelectric project on the Chenab river in Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir. The revival is part of a broader push to accelerate previously stalled hydropower projects on the western rivers, after India placed the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance in 2025 following the Pahalgam terror attack.
About Kirthai-II
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 930 MW |
| River | Chenab |
| Location | Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Type | Run-of-river hydroelectric project |
| Developer | Chenab Valley Power Projects Limited (CVPPL) |
| CVPPL ownership | NHPC (51%) and the J&K State Power Development Corporation (49%) |
Kirthai-II is one of a cluster of Chenab projects (others include Pakal Dul, Kiru, Kwar and Ratle) that India is pursuing to harness the hydropower potential of the western rivers.
The Indus Waters Treaty
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Signed | 1960, by Jawaharlal Nehru and Ayub Khan |
| Broker | The World Bank |
| Eastern rivers (to India) | Ravi, Beas, Sutlej |
| Western rivers (largely to Pakistan) | Indus, Jhelum, Chenab |
| India’s rights on western rivers | Limited non-consumptive and run-of-river use (hydropower, limited irrigation) |
| Current status | Held in abeyance by India since 2025 |
Under the 1960 treaty, the three eastern rivers were allocated to India and the three western rivers largely to Pakistan, with India retaining defined non-consumptive and run-of-river rights on the western rivers. India placed the treaty in abeyance in 2025 after the Pahalgam terror attack, freeing it to accelerate hydropower projects within its rights without the treaty’s procedural constraints.
Government of India’s Position
The Government of India’s stand is the position a UPSC answer must reflect: Jammu and Kashmir, including the areas under Pakistan’s illegal occupation, is an integral part of India, and Pakistan must vacate the territory it illegally occupies. The acceleration of Chenab projects asserts India’s legitimate rights over the western rivers while it reviews the future of the treaty.
Why It Matters
The revival sits at the intersection of energy, security and diplomacy:
- Energy security: the western rivers hold large untapped hydropower potential for power-deficit northern India.
- Strategic leverage: holding the treaty in abeyance gives India room to use water infrastructure as a point of pressure after cross-border terrorism.
- Balancing concerns: projects must still account for federal, downstream and ecological factors.
UPSC Relevance
Prelims
- Kirthai-II: 930 MW, run-of-river, on the Chenab, Kishtwar, J&K; developer CVPPL (NHPC 51%, JKSPDC 49%)
- Indus Waters Treaty (1960): signed by Nehru and Ayub Khan, brokered by the World Bank
- Eastern rivers (to India): Ravi, Beas, Sutlej; western rivers: Indus, Jhelum, Chenab
- India holds the treaty in abeyance since 2025 (post-Pahalgam)
- GoI stand: J&K, including illegally occupied areas, is an integral part of India
Mains Angles
- GS2 India-Pakistan: Examine the implications of India holding the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance and accelerating Chenab projects.
- GS3 Energy: Discuss the hydropower potential of the western rivers and the balance between energy, ecology and federal concerns.
- GS2 Water Diplomacy: Analyse the use of trans-boundary water as an instrument of strategic leverage.
Facts Corner
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project | Kirthai-II hydroelectric project |
| Capacity | 930 MW |
| River | Chenab |
| Location | Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Developer | CVPPL (NHPC 51% + JKSPDC 49%) |
| Indus Waters Treaty | 1960; Nehru and Ayub Khan; World Bank-brokered |
| Eastern rivers (India) | Ravi, Beas, Sutlej |
| Western rivers | Indus, Jhelum, Chenab |
| Treaty status | In abeyance since 2025 |
| GoI stand | J&K integral to India; Pakistan must vacate occupied areas |
Sources: Ministry of Power, NHPC, The Hindu
Source: India Revives Kirthai-II Hydro Project on the Chenab — Ujiyari.com | Free UPSC & State PCS Current Affairs
