After Indus Water Treaty pause, India starts major desilting operations of Chenab at Salal Dam

The Salal concrete dam was originally designed with six under-sluice gates for sediment management.

• Desilting begins in Chenab after Indus Waters Treaty suspension
• Salal dam's storage rose from 9.91 to 14 MCM after dredging
• Six under-sluice gates to be reopened for better sediment control

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For the first time since the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, desilting operations have gathered pace in Himalayan rivers covered under the pact, including the Chenab. Dredging has now begun in the Chenab river,  a key development after decades of operational restrictions, according to a report by news agency ANI.

A tender has also been floated to disilt and reopen six under-sluice gates that were permanently plugged under the treaty’s provisions. The impact of the treaty’s suspension is most visible at the Salal Power Station, located in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir on the Chenab River.

Speaking to ANI, Anish Gauraha, Executive Director of the Salal Power Station, said, "after the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty we are working on an effective sediment management plan to improve the operational efficiency of the power station."

He added, "It is difficult to say how much this will increase power generation, but it will certainly reduce wear and tear. Dredging is one of the key activities under the silt management plan. Through this, we aim to remove as much silt as possible to minimise damage. Plans are also being developed to reduce sediment through flushing."

Explaining earlier limitations, Gauraha said, "Earlier, when the Indus Waters Treaty was in effect, we were not able to carry out all these measures. For example, we were not allowed to undertake draw-down flushing for desilting and dredging."

The Salal concrete dam was originally designed with six under-sluice gates for sediment management. However, under the treaty signed in 1960 and a subsequent 1978 agreement, the six under-sluices were permanently plugged and operation of silt excluder gates was prohibited. With no sediment management mechanism in place, silt steadily accumulated in the reservoir over the decades.

Now, efforts are underway to reverse that damage. Gauraha confirmed, "We have floated a tender to make the under-sluice gates operational, and work on that is underway."

The reservoir’s original storage capacity of 284 million cubic meters (MCM) had drastically reduced to just 9.91 MCM, according to a May 2025 bathymetric survey. Following the suspension of the treaty and the start of desilting work, capacity has been restored to 14 MCM as of January 2026.

Officials said, "NOC has been issued for de-siltation of the Salal dam reservoir, and work already commenced. Till now, 1.7 lakh MT of sediments have been dredged out and 68490 MT disposed off."

Authorities are now working to further enhance reservoir capacity and strengthen sediment management to improve the plant’s long-term operational efficiency.