A project first conceived nearly a century ago is finally moving forward. The Ujh Multipurpose Project sits on a river India was always entitled to fully use. For decades, that water simply flowed on into Pakistan instead.
Must Know
The Ujh Multipurpose Project
What the Ujh Project Is
- PlaceIt sits in Kathua district, Jammu & Kashmir, on the Ujh River.
- RiverUjh is a main tributary of the Ravi River.
- TypeIt is a multipurpose project, for power, irrigation and water supply.
The Eastern Rivers
- Full formThe 1960 Indus Waters Treaty governs the six rivers of the Indus system.
- EasternRavi, Beas and Sutlej are the Eastern Rivers, allocated to India for unrestricted use.
- WesternIndus, Jhelum and Chenab are the Western Rivers, allocated mainly to Pakistan.
- SoUjh sits on a river India was fully entitled to use.
What It Will Do
- PowerIt is designed to generate 186–212 MW of electricity.
- IrrigationIt would irrigate nearly 90,000 hectares across Kathua and Samba in J&K.
- More landIt also serves Pathankot and Gurdaspur in Punjab.
- WaterIt will supply drinking water to Kathua district and support industry.
- Full formMW is megawatt, a unit of electric power.
Who Is Building It
- BodyWAPCOS Ltd is implementing the project.
- Full formWAPCOS is Water and Power Consultancy Services, a Government of India undertaking.
- MinistryIt sits under the Ministry of Jal Shakti.
- StatusThe project was declared a National Project in 2008.
- CostIts tentative cost is around ₹11,000 crore.
Good to Know
Why It Took a Century
Why It Took a Century
- OriginThe Ujh project was first conceived in the ~1920s.
- DelayIt stayed stalled for decades, even though India was always legally entitled to the water.
- LessonLegal right alone did not build the dam.
The Shahpurkandi Dam
- CompanionShahpurkandi is a related dam on the Ravi system.
- DelayIt faced a similar delay of about three decades.
- FinishPunjab’s Chief Minister inaugurated it on 5 November 2025.
- LiveNew irrigation channels went live in July 2026.
Water Flowing to Pakistan
- ProblemBecause these projects sat unfinished, Ravi water India was entitled to use kept flowing to Pakistan.
- SoCompleting them changes where that water goes.
A Security Dimension
- BackingThe Ministry of Home Affairs backs the project partly for security.
- PurposeIt aims to restrict unregulated water flows and close vulnerable infiltration routes.
Phased Execution
- PlanThe project will be executed in phases.
- ApproachConstruction will begin while land acquisition continues, not after it.
Test Yourself
Great to Know
What Ujh Signals
A Wider Pattern
- PatternUjh is part of long-delayed water infrastructure now being pushed forward.
- LawArticle 262 provides machinery for inter-state river-water disputes within India.
- LinkSee the related article for how India settles such conflicts at home.
What Ujh Signals
- IdeaA project can sit dormant for a century and still matter enormously once revived.
- LessonInfrastructure delay is rarely just an engineering problem.
- ConsequenceIt has real diplomatic and security consequences too.
Current Affairs
📰 Current Affairs
The August 2026 Review
- EventOn 2 August 2026, Dr Jitendra Singh reviewed the project’s status and phased roadmap with WAPCOS officials.
- PointHe noted Ravi was India’s major Eastern River even while the treaty was in force.
- StatusHe confirmed the treaty remains in abeyance.
- SourceMorning Kashmir.
The Treaty in Abeyance
- EventOn 3 July 2026, the MEA reaffirmed the treaty is in abeyance.
- ConditionIt holds until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably ends support for cross-border terrorism.
- OptionIndia said it retains the option of exiting the treaty entirely.
- Full formMEA is the Ministry of External Affairs.
- SourceThe Tribune.
The Hague Award
- EventOn 15 May 2026, the Court of Arbitration at The Hague issued a supplemental award on “maximum pondage.”
- RulingIt broadly favoured Pakistan’s position.
- RejectionIndia rejected the award as “null and void.”
- StandIndia says it does not recognise the Court as legally constituted, and the treaty’s abeyance stands.
- SourceAll India Radio / Newsonair.
PYQ
Exam Point of View
MCQ Questions
- ScopeUjh, the Indus Waters Treaty and Eastern/Western Rivers appear in UPSC and other competitive exams.
Written Answer Questions
- ThemeWater-sharing and river governance are recurring GS-II and GS-III themes.
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