India has halted the flow of water to Pakistan from the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River and is preparing to curb runoff from the Kishanganga project on the Jhelum River, aligning with its stated policy to prevent “a single drop” from reaching the neighbouring country through the Indus river system.

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Baglihar Dam cuts flow to Pakistan by 90%

After a week of discussions and hydrological assessments, Indian authorities initiated de-silting operations at the Baglihar Dam. With the lowering of the sluice gates, the downstream flow to Pakistan was slashed by up to 90%.

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A similar strategy is being prepared for the Kishanganga Dam. According to a Hindustan Times report, officials confirmed that extensive maintenance work will begin “very soon,” during which all downstream water flow will be stopped. Situated in the Gurez Valley of the northwestern Himalayas, the Kishanganga project is the region’s first large-scale hydropower facility. Pakistan has repeatedly raised objections to the design of both dams.

Part of broader retaliatory measures

India’s decision follows closely on the heels of Pakistan’s test launch of a surface-to-surface ballistic missile and its declaration banning Pakistani-flagged vessels from Indian ports.

Earlier, India had suspended the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, a move triggered by the killing of dozens of tourists in a terrorist attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22.

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On Saturday, the Jal Shakti Ministry presented a plan to the Union Home Ministry outlining measures to bolster water availability for northern Indian states by leveraging rivers from the Indus basin.

“We are ready with stringent punitive measures against Pakistan and nearly 50 engineers from the NHPC are already in the UT of Jammu and Kashmir to oversee the operations,” Hindustan Times quoted a National Hydroelectric Power Corporation official as saying.

The Chenab River experienced a noticeable decline in water levels in the Reasi district after authorities closed the gates of the Salal Dam.