Islamabad, India has begun construction of a new hydropower project on Maru Sadar, a tributary of the River Chenab, sparking controversy for potentially violating the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960. This development adds to the existing legal disputes between Islamabad and New Delhi over hydropower projects on rivers shared by both nations.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the project in question, expected to generate 1,000 MW of hydropower and have a live dam storage of 99,000 acre-feet, is contested by Pakistan. The Pakistani authorities have challenged the project’s design, particularly its spillways and free board, alleging that they breach the IWT. India claims a live storage of 88,000 acre-feet but is accused of having a faulty design. Pakistan had invoked Article 9 of the Treaty regarding the project’s design more than a year ago.

A senior official from the Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters (PCIW) mentioned that Pakistan would again raise the issue under Article 9 of the treaty in upcoming PCIW-level talks, potentially scheduled before March 2024. If these discussions fail, Pakistan plans to pursue other avenues outlined in the IWT and may eventually seek arbitration.

In addition to this project, India is accelerating work on two more projects on the Chenab River – the Kiru and Kwar upstream Ratle projects. Pakistan has raised objections to the designs of these projects as well, which it claims are in violation of the IWT. The Kiru hydropower project (624MW) and the Kwar hydroelectric power project (540MW) have been a point of contention in recent interactions between the two countries. Under the treaty, India is obligated to share the designs of its projects with Pakistan.

The Kiru project, located near the villages of Patharnakki and Kiru, is positioned strategically on the Chenab River, between the Kirthai-II hydroelectric project upstream and the Kwar hydroelectric project downstream. These projects and the ensuing disputes underscore the ongoing complexities in water-sharing and hydropower development between India and Pakistan.