Manohar Lal Khattar Reviews J&K Hydro Projects: Pakal Dul, Kiru Deadlines Set on Chenab River

On this India Today report, anchor Gaurav Sawant details Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s strategic review of hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir. Khattar has established a December 2026 deadline for the commissioning of the Pakal Dul and Kiru dams on the Chenab river, with the Kwar project slated for March 2028. The report underscores the government's stance that 'blood and water cannot flow together,' a message directed at Pakistan-sponsored terror. Correspondent Sunil Ji Bhat notes that these projects aim to optimally utilize India's share of the Indus Waters Treaty rivers, specifically the Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus. The initiative is expected to boost the power grid, enhance local employment, and fast-track long-pending infrastructure within international norms. By accelerating these run-of-the-river dams, the Narendra Modi government intends to benefit the people of Jammu and Kashmir while strategically pressuring the military jihad infrastructure in Pakistan. The review marks a significant non-military option to address regional security concerns through infrastructure development.