By Aftab Ahmed, Sarita Chaganti Singh and Krishna N. Das
SRINAGAR (Reuters) – India has begun work to boost reservoir holding capacity at two hydroelectric projects in the Himalayan region of Kashmir, sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters, after fresh tension with Pakistan led it to suspend a water-sharing pact.
The work represents the first tangible step by India to operate outside agreements covered by the Indus Waters Treaty, which both countries have honoured since 1960 despite three wars and several other conflicts between the nuclear-armed rivals.
Last month, however, New Delhi suspended the pact that ensures supply to 80% of Pakistani farms after it identified two of the three assailants in an attack that killed 26 people in Kashmir as Pakistani.
Islamabad denied any role in the attack and has threatened international legal action over the suspension warning: “Any attempt to stop or divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan … will be considered as an act of war.”
A “reservoir flushing” process to remove sediment began on Thursday, carried out by India’s biggest hydropower company, state-run NHPC Ltd, and authorities in the federal territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the three sources said.
The process initially results in sediment-laden waters being released downstream from the reservoirs, potentially causing sudden inundation, followed by a reduced flow of water as the reservoirs are refilled, one of the sources said.
The work may not immediately threaten supply to Pakistan, which depends on rivers flowing through India for much of its irrigation and hydropower, but it could eventually be affected if other dams launch similar efforts.
There are more than half a dozen such projects in the region.
India did not inform Pakistan about the work at the Salal and Baglihar projects, which is being done for the first time since they were built in 1987 and 2008/09, respectively, as the treaty had blocked such work, the sources added.
They spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to talk to the media.
India’s NHPC and the two governments did not reply to emails from Reuters seeking comment.
Since independence from British colonial rule in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over Kashmir, in addition to numerous short conflicts.
The flushing operation ran for three days from May 1, the sources said.
“This is the first time such an exercise has taken place and will help in more efficient power generation and prevent damage to turbines,” one of the sources told Reuters.