Amid uncertainty over the Indus Waters Treaty, the Indian government is crucially considering the renewing of the Tulbul navigation project and is taking measures to maximise its rights over the western rivers and strengthen its utilisation of available water resources.

Why is the project controversial?

The project was suspended in 1987 after Pakistan raised objections to its construction, citing concerns under the Indus Water Treaty (IWT). According to the treaty, Pakistan raised serious concerns over the project, which led to its suspension.

The Indian government is making fresh efforts to revive the Tulbul Navigation Project, raising concerns across the border in Pakistan.

Pakistan claims the project on the Jhelum River, which is governed by the Indus Water Treaty, is primarily under its rights. Islamabad believes that Modi government's moves could adversely impact long-standing disputes.

The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was put in abeyance by the Indian government following the Pahalgam terror attack in 2025. The government has since tasked the National Hydropower Corporation (NHPC) to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project.

According to reports, NHPC had officially floated two work contracts for exploratory drilling works and a bathymetric survey at the Tulbul project in 2025. A top NHPC team led by Director-Projects, Sanjay Kumar visited the Tulbul site in north Kashmir's Baramulla district at Ningli on June 7, where engineers and officials were briefed on the project.

Why India wants to develop the project?

The Tulbul navigation project, otherwise known as Wullar Barrage, is a navigation lock-cum-control structure located at Wular lake (Asia’s second largest freshwater lake) in Jammu and Kashmir.

The proposed structure, a 430-feet-long and 40-feet-wide lock-cum-barrage, was originally designed to create a storage capacity of 0.30 million acre feet.

The primary aim of the entire project is to regulate waterflow and maintain a minimum water level in the Jhelum River to ensure year-round inland navigation between Srinagar and Baramulla.

Benefits of the project

The Wular lake offers regulated water flow inducing hydroelectric power generation enhancing the efficiency of downstream hydroelectric projects, including Uri I and II in India. The controlled water released from the barrage could improve the irrigation systems benefiting the agriculture system in the region.

During the peak monsoon season the barrage becomes a lifesaver by managing the risk of arising floods by regulating the water discharge more efficiently. The overall strengthening of the navigation and water management could stimulate the trade and commerce causing a rise to the region’s economic growth.

The project is expected to improve inland water navigation on the Jhelum River encouraging economic activities including tourism, fisheries, agriculture and horticulture.

How is the Tulbul project envisioned?

The Government of Jammu and Kashmir in 1984 proposed the Tulbul project to address two interconnected challenges - establishing year-round navigation capabilities and provide enhanced flood protection during monsoon periods.

The project improved the navigability along the critical 20-kilometer stretch between Wular lake and Baramulla ensuring continuous transportation and tourism operation throughout the year. The operation tools enable the Wular lake to fill naturally up to its seasonal maximum level.

Once the water level in Wular Lake begins to decline, the lock-gates will be operated to ensure controlled water release, maintaining adequate water depth in the Jhelum River for year-round navigation.

Apart from its regular advantage, the regulated flow could enhance power generation efficiency at hydroelectric installations downstream benefiting both India and Pakistan.

Legal battle between India and Pakistan

India's Ministry of Shipping and Transport allowed technical clearance for the Tulbul navigation project back in 1980s and following this the Jammu and Kashmir government began its construction in 1984.

The Pakistan government formally objected and raised serious concerns to the project arguing that it violated provisions of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT).

The dispute was initially discussed through the Permanent Indus Commission and despite this the two sides failed to reach a final agreement benefiting both the parties.

India paused work on the Tulbul project in 1987 to show its willingness to hold talks with Pakistan and try to resolve the dispute. Under the negotiation process the issue was taken up between the Pakistani and Indian government through multiple rounds of Secretary-level talks and discussions.

Despite years of negotiations held between 1987 and 2012, both countries have contradictory views regarding the project's legality and implications under the treaty. Without reaching a mutually acceptable settlement, the Tulbul project remained suspended turning it into one of the longest-running water-related disputes between India and Pakistan.

Concerns Pakistan highlighted

Pakistan's biggest concern is its dependence on rivers flowing from India. Following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the Indian government suspended the Indus Waters Treaty. This resulted in Pakistan losing access to real-time hydrological data that had been shared under the IWT framework.

The Pakistan government contends that the absence of real-time water-flow data could affect flood forecasting and water management, especially in the farming regions of Punjab and Sindh.

The Islamabad government maintains that international rulings related to water-sharing issues should be respected, while India has questioned the validity of certain proceedings.

The Pakistani government has further raised concerns over emerging challenges such as climate change and Himalayan glacier melt, making water security an increasingly sensitive issue for the country.

Compiled by Gowri Nanda