In a bid to maximise the utilisation of Chenab river water for India's growth, the Centre has fast-tracked the development of the Sawalkot Hydroelectric Project in Ramban district.

According to a report by India Today, state-owned power firm National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) has floated a tender for the construction of the project, which was under consideration for a long time.

The tender, worth Rs 5,129 crore, invited bids for the dam, tunnels and associated works. The bid submission process will begin on March 12 and continue till March 20.

According to the tender, the construction days have been fixed at 3,285 days (nearly 10 years).

The tender is considered a strategic move amid the paused Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, which governed the distribution of waters of the six rivers Indus, Sutlaj, Chenab, Beas, Ravi and Jhelum.

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India is reported to be looking to optimise the utilisation of water allocated to it under the treaty. As part of the treaty, India has exclusive rights over the eastern rivers - Sutlej, Beas and Ravi.

Pakistan, on the other hand, has rights on the western rivers - Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. India has the right to use the waters from these rivers, but it must not affect the flow of water downstream.

Hence, the Sawalkot project is being taken up to harness India's share of waters and boost power generation, as out of the estimated power potential of 20,000 MW, India is currently generating only 3,482 MW.

As per the treaty, India has the right to create a water storage capacity up to 3.6 million acre-feet on western rivers.

Currently, India has a plan of four power projects on the Chenab river system - Pakal Dul and Kiru projects, Kwar project, Sawalkot project and Ratle Dam.

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The Indus Water Treaty was held in abeyance by India in a diplomatic punishment to Pakistan after ISI-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam meadows in May last year. On the military front, India launched Operation Sindoor to target terror infrastructure deep inside Pakistan and PoK. 

As tensions took the form of an escalatory spiral and an 88-hour armed engagement, the treaty remains suspended since then.