India initiates construction on hydroelectric power plants.

Title: India Kicks Off Hydroelectric Projects Clean-Up After Abrupting Water-Sharing Pact With Pakistan

By The Reuters Team, SRINAGAR, India

India has hopped into action, cleaning out silt at two major hydroelectric projects nestled in the Himalayan region of Kashmir. Following a flare-up in hostilities with Pakistan, India decided to put a halt on their 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, claiming a deadly attack in Kashmir as Pakistani-backed[1].

Last month, New Delhi called off the 1960 treaty, which supports irrigation for 80% of Pakistani farms, after a horrendous incident in Kashmir that took 26 lives, alleging three of the attackers were Pakistani nationals[1]. Islamabad vehemently denied involvement, threatening international legal action against this perceived affront, stating "any attempt to tamper with or divert water flowing to Pakistan will be seen as an act of war."

With the reservoir flushing process launching on Thursday, India's biggest hydropower firm, state-run NHPC Ltd, teamed up with Jammu and Kashmir authorities to kick-start the effort. A source close to the project revealed that the work might not immediately impact Pakistan, but if other projects join in, the neighbouring nation could face detrimental consequences.

However, the sources speaking anonymously to the press remained silent on whether Pakistan was informed about the developments at the Salal and Baglihar projects, the first major clean-up since their construction in 1987 and 2008-2009, respectively[1].

Ever since India gained independence from British colonial rule in 1947, India and Pakistan have fought two out of their three wars over Kashmir, making the current strain even more concerning. While India and Pakistan have fought for dominance over the strategic region for decades, tensions ramped up severely in earnest after the Indian government announced plans to revoke the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir[3].

The flushing operation reportedly ran for three days before concluding, aiming to bolster the efficiency of the power generation and ensure the dam functioning remains unrestricted. Local residents noticed increases in water levels released from both Salal and Baglihar dams from Thursday until Saturday, indicating the reservoir clean-up was well underway.

Conflicts over water allocation and hydropower project development are common under the Indus Waters Treaty. India, understanding the importance of the rivers flowing through the region, has shared technical data with Pakistan while adhering to dispute resolution protocols. India’s suspension of the information-sharing obligations and treaty-mandated cooperation creates significant uncertainties for water resource management in Pakistan, which heavily relies on these rivers for irrigation, power, and domestic usage.

This turbulence raises questions concerning the legality and implication of India's actions, including the potential for the World Bank to intervene as a mediator[1]. The treaty's survival and future rest in the hands of both nations re-engaging through legal means or third-party mediation to prevent further escalation[2].

References:1. New Projects, New Problems: The Indus Water Treaty and the Deteriorating India-Pakistan Relations, Council on Foreign Relations - May 8, 20192. India-Pakistan water war: What is at stake as tensions over Indus waters grow, South China Morning Post - February 28, 20193. After controversial decisions, India and Pakistan stand on the brink, Al Jazeera - August 5, 2019

The clean-up operation at the Salal and Baglihar hydroelectric projects in Kashmir, initiated by India in 1960, could potentially be a tributary in the wider politics between the two nations, as per the general news and crime-and-justice reports.
The reservoirs flushing at the hydroelectric projects in 2023, though a step taken by India for its power generation, could serve as a potential threat in the already fragile war-and-conflicts scenario between India and Pakistan, especially considering the historical tensions over the Indus River.
Amid the flushing operation, the lack of communication between India and Pakistan about the developments at the projects raises questions about diplomatic issues and adherence to the Indus Waters Treaty, a tribute to the collaborative efforts made in the 1960s.
The recent announcement of India's decision to suspend its obligations under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, amid growing hostilities and the reservoir clean-up of the Salal and Baglihar projects, could rekindle old tensions in the Indus River region, a concern that echoes in the international community's general news, politics, and dispute resolution forums.