'Chenab Water To Benefit India Now': Himachal-Based Expert's Idea Gets Shape As Centre Clears Key Infra Projects
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The Union government has greenlit the ambitious Rs 2300 crore Chenab-Beas Link Tunnel Project, bringing a decade-old proposal by Himachal-based expert Praveen Sharma to fruition. This strategic move is poised to significantly bolster India's water security and agricultural potential, diverting surplus Chenab river water into the Beas basin for enhanced irrigation and power generation across northern states. This clearance marks a critical advancement in India's strategic water resource management, particularly concerning the Western Rivers governed by the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). While the IWT primarily allocates the Chenab to Pakistan, India retains specific rights for non-consumptive uses and limited storage within its territory. The project aims to harness monsoon season overflows, which previously flowed downstream unutilized, thereby maximizing regional agricultural productivity in states like Punjab and Haryana, and boosting Himachal Pradesh hydropower potential. Construction is expected to commence swiftly, overseen by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, with initial estimates for completion extending several years given the complex tunneling and dam work involved. The successful implementation of this project will undoubtedly inform future policy decisions on inter-river linking and water diversion schemes, especially as climate change increasingly stresses regional water availability, signaling a robust commitment to national water infrastructure development.