Baglihar Dam


Baglihar Dam is built on Chenab River in the Doda district of Jammu & Kashmir. The hydro power project ‘Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project’, is a run-of-the-river power project on the Chenab River. This project was conceived in 1992, approved in 1996 and construction began in 1999. The main reason for this 450 (3 X 150 mw) MW project to be in news are the objections raised by Pakistan [1]. Pakistan claimed that, the dam is a gross violations of the Indus Water Treaty,. India reduced the water flow to fill up the Baglihar dam lake in Jammu and Kashmir, causing a loss of agriculture for farmers in Pakistan. India, on the other hand, has clarified that reduced flow in the Chenab river in Pakistan was a result of very little availability of water in a lean year [2]. The objection had lead to the project being referred to a World Bank appointed Neutral Expert. Pakistan feels that project violates the 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT) where as India says the project does not violate IWT [1]. Pakistan had raised four objections to the dam design in its case against the project. Swiss neutral expert, Raymond Lafitte has conceded three of its objections but upheld India s design to build spillway gates, which Pakistan vehemently objected [3] In June 2010, India and Pakistan resolved the issue relating to the initial filling of Baglihar dam deciding not to raise the matter further. The decision was arrived at the talks of Permanent Indus Commissioners meeting of the two countries[4].