Reasi: Because of the recent war between India and Pakistan following the horrific Pahalgam terror assault, the gates of the Salal Dam, which is situated on the Chenab River in the Reasi area of Jammu and Kashmir, were previously locked. One of the dam’s gates was opened on Friday morning, presumably to control the overflow brought on by rising water levels.

As tensions between the two countries increased, India terminated the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, leading to the closure of the gates. Meanwhile, after intense rains in Jammu and Kashmir threatened to cause flooding, officials opened the gates of the Baglihar dam on May 8.

The Indian government continues to hold its position on the Indus Water Treaty, which is still pending, even though it is working toward a deal to end hostilities. The terrorist assault in Pahalgam put the pact on hold.

The Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, and the major Indus River constitute the Indus system. India and Pakistan share most of the basin, with China and Afghanistan sharing a minor portion.

The Indus Waters Treaty, which was signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, gave India exclusive usage of the waters of the three Eastern Rivers—the Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas—with an average of around 33 million acre-feet (MAF).

With the exception of some household, non-consumptive, and agricultural uses allowed to India by the Treaty, Pakistan was granted access to the waters of the Western rivers—the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—with an average of around 135 MAF.

Additionally, India has been granted the authority to produce hydroelectricity via run-of-river (RoR) projects on the Western Rivers, subject to certain design requirements and with unrestricted operation.

India has built the Bhakra Dam on the Satluj, the Pong and Pandoh Dams on the Beas, and the Thein (Ranjitsagar) Dam on the Ravi to exploit the waters of the eastern rivers that have been allotted to India for its exclusive use.

Together with other projects like the Indira Gandhi Nahar Project, the Madhopur-Beas Link, the Beas-Sutlej Link, and others, these storage facilities have allowed India to use the majority of the water in the eastern rivers.

In his May 12 speech, Prime Minister Modi said that Operation Sindoor is India’s counterterrorism strategy after the 2016 surgical strike and the 2019 airstrike. He said that water and blood cannot flow together and that India had placed the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan on hold in the wake of the Pahalgam terror assault.