India’s New Hydropower Projects in Disputed Ladakh Raise Alarm in Pakistan

Islamabad:India has announced a plan to construct **10 new mega hydropower projects** in the disputed region of **Ladakh**, including sites at **Achinathang-Sanjak, Parfila, Sonth (Batalik),** and **Khaltsi**. The move has raised **serious concerns in Pakistan**, which sees it as a potential violation of the **Indus Waters Treaty** and a threat to the region’s already fragile water security.

According to reports, the projects are part of **India’s master plan to control the flow of the Indus River**, a transboundary river governed by United Nations resolutions and international treaty obligations.

### **Violation of Treaty Terms**

Experts argue that the **proposed storage capacities** of these projects **exceed the permissible limits** defined in the **Indus Waters Treaty**, signed in 1960. The treaty, brokered by the World Bank, governs water sharing between Pakistan and India and restricts certain developments on western rivers, including the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.

The development has sparked fears in Pakistan that India may attempt to **divert or reduce the flow of water** into Pakistani territory — a move that could have **severe environmental, agricultural, and human consequences**.

### **Pakistan Raises Humanitarian Concerns**

Renowned Pakistani water expert **Irshad H. Abbasi**, in an open letter titled *“A Humanitarian Crisis in the Making: The Indus Waters Treaty and India’s Actions,”* has strongly criticized the Indian move. The letter was addressed directly to **United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres**.

Abbasi highlights that while India may justify the projects as necessary for providing **heat and energy to its military personnel deployed in the glacial regions near Siachen**, it has done little to address the **basic energy needs of the local population in Ladakh**, who remain deprived and vulnerable during extreme winters.

> “This is not just a political or environmental issue; it’s a looming **humanitarian crisis** that threatens the lives of millions dependent on the Indus River,” Abbasi wrote.

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