The Central Government is expected to soon commence work on the much-discussed Chenab-Beas Link Tunnel project, which aims to divert surplus water from the Chandra River in the Lahaul region toward the Beas basin. The approval of the Chenab-Beas Link Tunnel project is being viewed as a significant move by the Centre following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Activity surrounding the project has intensified rapidly in New Delhi, even as an official announcement is still awaited. Under this project, a tunnel approximately 8.7 kilometers in length is proposed to be constructed beneath the Pir Panjal range in the Koksar area, at an estimated cost of ₹2,352 crore.
The total expenditure for this project, including the silt management system, is estimated to be around ₹2,600 crore. Additionally, there are plans to construct a 19-meter-high barrage across the Chandra River in the Lahaul Valley; this structure will be used to regulate the water flow and divert it into the tunnel system. According to sources, this entire undertaking is part of a broader strategy to channel water toward the Beas basin through a network of hydraulic structures and tunnels. This initiative is expected to lead to a substantial increase in Himachal Pradesh’s hydroelectric power generation capacity, potentially adding approximately 4,000 megawatts of output.
This initiative is reportedly linked to the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty (1960), which permit India to utilize the waters of the Western Rivers. Experts believe that if this project is successfully implemented on the ground, it will have a profound impact on water management, irrigation, and power generation. However, detailed studies of the project’s environmental and geographical aspects will be essential.
A Step to Strengthen National Interests
The Chenab-Beas Link Tunnel project stands to benefit not only Himachal Pradesh but the entire North Indian region. The project will propel the nation further toward self-reliance in the water and energy sectors. Following ‘Operation Sindoor’ and the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan, this move by the government is expected to further reinforce the country’s national interests.