Wikipedia

Chenab River

For other uses, see Chenab (disambiguation).

The Chenab River[a] is a major river in India and Pakistan, and is one of the 5 major rivers of the Punjab region. It is formed by the union of two headwaters, the Chandra and Bhaga, which rise in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul region of Himachal Pradesh, India. The Chenab flows then through the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, India into the plains of Punjab, Pakistan, where it joins the Sutlej River to form the Panjnad, which ultimately flows into the Indus River at Mithankot.

Chenab
The Chenab river at Ramban, Jammu and Kashmir, India
Map
Location
CountryIndia, Pakistan
Flows through (areas in India)Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir
Flows through (areas in Pakistan)Punjab
Physical characteristics
SourceBaralacha La pass
 • locationLahul and Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh, India
 • coordinates32°38′09″N 77°28′51″E / 32.63583°N 77.48083°E / 32.63583; 77.48083
MouthConfluence with Sutlej to form the Panjnad River
 • location
Bahawalpur district, Punjab, Pakistan
 • coordinates
29°20′57″N 71°1′41″E / 29.34917°N 71.02806°E / 29.34917; 71.02806
Length974 km (605 mi)
Discharge 
 • locationMarala Headworks, Gujrat district, Punjab, Pakistan[1]
 • average977.3 m3/s (34,510 cu ft/s)
 • minimum310.53 m3/s (10,966 cu ft/s)
 • maximum31,148.53 m3/s (1,100,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
River systemIndus River
Tributaries 
 • leftTawi River, Ravi River
 • rightMarusudar River,[2] Jhelum River, Neeru river and Kalnai River

The waters of the Chenab were allocated to Pakistan under the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty. India is allowed non-consumptive uses such as power generation. The Chenab River is extensively used in Pakistan for irrigation. Its waters are also transferred to the channel of the Ravi River via numerous link canals.[3][4][5]

Name

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The Chenab river was called Asikni (Sanskrit: असिक्नी) in the Rigveda (VIII.20.25, X.75.5). The name meant that it was seen to have dark-coloured waters.[6][7] The term Krishana is also found in the Atharvaveda.[8] A later form of Askikni was Iskamati (Sanskrit: इस्कामति)[citation needed] and the Greek form was Ancient Greek: Ἀκεσίνης – Akesínes; Latinized to Acesines.[6][7][9]

In the Mahabharata, the common name of the river was Chandrabhaga (Sanskrit: चन्द्रभागा) because the river is formed from the confluence of the Chandra and the Bhaga rivers.[8][10] This name was also known to the Ancient Greeks, who Hellenised it in various forms such as Sandrophagos, Sandabaga and Cantabra.[7]

The simplification of Chandrabhaga to 'Chenab', with evident Persianate influence, probably occurred in early medieval times and is witnessed in Alberuni.[11]

Course

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Confluence of the Chandra (left) and Bhaga (right), the two main headstreams of the Chenab, at Tandi, Himachal Pradesh, India.

The river is formed by the confluence of two rivers, Chandra and Bhaga, at Tandi, 8 km (5.0 mi) southwest of Keylong, in the Lahaul and Spiti district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.[3]

The Bhaga river originates from Surya taal lake, which is situated a few kilometers west of the Bara-lacha la pass in Himachal Pradesh. The Chandra river originates from glaciers east of the same pass (near Chandra Taal).[3][12] This pass also acts as a water-divide between these two rivers.[13] The Chandra river transverses 115 km (71 mi) while the Bhaga river transverses 60 km (37 mi) through narrow gorges before their confluence at Tandi.[14]

 
Trimmu Barrage, where Jhelum River flows into the Chenab, in Jhang, Punjab, Pakistan
 
Chenab River's bank at Multan, Punjab, Pakistan

The Chandra-Bhaga then flows through the pangi valley of Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh before entering the Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir, where it flows through the Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi and Jammu districts. It enters Pakistan and flows through the Punjab province before emptying into the Sutlej, forming the Panjnad river.

History

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The river was known to Indians in the Vedic period.[15][16][17] In 325 BCE, Alexander the Great allegedly founded the town of Alexandria on the Indus (present-day Uch Sharif or Mithankot or Chacharan in Pakistan) at the confluence of the Indus and the combined streams of Punjab rivers (currently known as the Panjnad River).[18] Arrian, in the Anabasis of Alexander, quotes the eyewitness Ptolemy Lagides as writing that the river was 2 miles wide where Alexander crossed it.[19]

The Battle of Chenab was fought between Sikhs and Afghans on the bank of the river.[20]

Dams

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The Salal Dam near Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir, India

Listed from source of river to the downstream direction.

India

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To tap the rich power generation potential, India has the following dams-cum-hydroelectric power generation projects in Chenab basin, all of which are run-of-the-river projects as per the provisions of Indus Water Treaty[21] which was suspended by India in April 2025.[22]

Project State (District) Hydroelectricity Capacity (MW) Live Storage Capacity (MCM) Status Completion Comment /Ref
Barinium Hydroelectric Power Project J&K (Kishtwar) 240 17 Proposed 2028 In May 2025, being expedited with expected completion in 2028.[23] Projects in Kishtwar district are collectively called the Kishtwar Hydroelectric Power Project.
Kirthai Hydroelectric Power Project J&K (Kishtwar) 1320 30 Proposed 2032 Kirthai-I 390 MW 13 MCM and downstream Kirthai-II 930 MW 17 MCM, construction of Kirthai-I expected to begin in 2029 with completion by 2032.[24]
Kiru Hydroelectric Power Project J&K (Kishtwar) 624 10.5 Under-construction 2026 In May 2025, 55% complete[22] with expected completion date of Sept 2026.[25]
Kwar Hydroelectric Power Project J&K (Kishtwar) 540 9.2 Under-construction 2027 In May 2025, 19% complete[22] with expected completion date of Dec 2027.[25]
Pakal Dul Dam Hydroelectric Power Project J&K (Kishtwar) 1000 109 Under-construction 2026 In May 2025, 66% complete[22] with expected completion date of Sept 2026 on a tributary Marusadar River.[25] It's on Marusudar River tributary of Chenab.
Bursar Hydroelectric Power Project J&K (Kishtwar) 800 618 Under-construction 2027 In May 2025, proposed stalled project was expedited in April 2025 after the termination of IWT.[26] It's on Marusudar River tributary of Chenab.
Dul Hasti Hydroelectric Plant J&K (Kishtwar) 390 8.6 Completed 2007 [21][27]
Ratle Hydroelectric Plant J&K (Kishtwar) 850 24 Under-construction 2032 In May 2025, 21% complete[22] with expected completion date of Nov 2028.[25]
Baglihar Dam Hydroelectric Power Project J&K (Doda) 900 31.1 Completed 2017 Total 900MW with completion of stage-II in 2017.[21][28][29]
Sawalkot Hydroelectric Power Project J&K (Reasi) 1856 550 Proposed 2032 Tendering phase in May 2025,[30] with expected completion date of June 2032.[31]
Salal Hydroelectric Power Station J&K (Reasi) 690 271.3 Completed 1987 [21][32][33]
Total Chenab (India) 9210 1678.7 Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing updgardes.

Pakistan

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The Chenab river at the Marala Headworks.

Pakistan has four headworks on the Chenab, all within the Punjab province, some with micro hydro electricity generation capacity:

Direct air connections between Bangladeshi and Indian cities (as of 2025)
Project State (District) Hydroelectricity Capacity (MW) Live Storage Capacity (MCM) Status Completion Comment /Ref
Marala Headworks Punjab (Sialkot) 7.64 2040 Existing 1968 Combined Marala Headworks (1912) and Marala Barrage (1968).[34][35]
Qadirabad Headworks Punjab (Mandi Bahauddin) 0 8.2 Existing 1968 Does not generate electricity.[36]
Khanki Headworks Punjab (Gujranwala) 0 197.4 Existing 2017 Completed in 1892 and upgraded in 2017, does not generate electricity.[37]
Trimmu Barrage Punjab (Jhang) 1263 16874 Existing 1939 [37]
Total Chenab (Pakistan) 1270.6 19120 Existing [37]


Other major infrastructure

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ /tʃɪˈnæb/; Urdu pronunciation: [ˈt͡ʃə.nɑːb]; Punjabi pronunciation: [ˈt͡ʃə˨.nä̃ː˦]); Saraiki pronunciation: [ˈt͡ʃə.nʱɑ̃ː]

References

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  1. ^ ftp://daac.ornl.gov/data/rivdis/STATIONS.HTM[permanent dead link], ORNL, Retrieved 8 Dec 2016
  2. ^ "Construction of power projects over Chenab". Business Recorder. 26 August 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Naqvi, Saiyid Ali (2012), Indus Waters and Social Change: The Evolution and Transition of Agrarian Society in Pakistan, Oxford University Press Pakistan, p. 13, ISBN 978-0-19-906396-3
  4. ^ "River Chenab" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007.
  5. ^ "Indus Waters Treaty". The World Bank. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  6. ^ a b Kapoor, Subodh (2002), Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Geography, Cosmo Publications, p. 80, ISBN 978-81-7755-298-0
  7. ^ a b c Kaul, Antiquities of the Chenāb Valley in Jammu 2001, p. 1.
  8. ^ a b Kaul, Antiquities of the Chenāb Valley in Jammu 2001, p. 2.
  9. ^   Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Acesines". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.
  10. ^ Handa, O. C.; Omacanda Hāṇḍā (1994), Buddhist Art & Antiquities of Himachal Pradesh, Upto 8th Century A.D., Indus Publishing, pp. 126–, ISBN 978-81-85182-99-5
  11. ^ Kazmi, Hasan Askari (1995), The makers of medieval Muslim geography: Alberuni, Renaissance, p. 124, ISBN 9788185199610
  12. ^ Gosal, G.S. (2004). "Physical Geography of the Punjab" (PDF). Journal of Punjab Studies. 11 (1). Center for Sikh and Punjab Studies, University of California: 31. ISSN 0971-5223. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2012. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
  13. ^ R. K. Pant; N. R. Phadtare; L. S. Chamyal & Navin Juyal (June 2005). "Quaternary deposits in Ladakh and Karakoram Himalaya: A treasure trove of the palaeoclimate records" (PDF). Current Science. 88 (11): 1789–1798. Retrieved 6 August 2009.
  14. ^ "Lahaul & Spiti". Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  15. ^ Yule, Henry; Burnell, Arthur Coke; Crooke, William (1903). Hobson-Jobson: A glossary of Anglo-Indian colloquial words & phrases and of kindred terms. Murray. p. 741. chenab ancient name.
  16. ^ "River, Chenab River on Encyclopædia Britannica". Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  17. ^ Encyclopædia Britannica article on the Chenab
  18. ^ "Alexandria (Uch)". Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  19. ^ Arrian (2010). Romm, James (ed.). The Landmark Arrian : the Campaigns of Alexander; Anabasis Alexandrous : a new translation. Translated by Mensch, Pamela. New York: Pantheon Books. p. 222. ISBN 9780375423468. OCLC 515405268. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  20. ^ ^ Jump up to:a b VSM, D. S. Saggu (2018-06-07). Battle Tactics And War Manoeuvres of the Sikhs. Notion Press. ISBN 978-1-64249-006-0.
  21. ^ a b c d Bakshi, Gitanjali; Trivedi, Sahiba (2011), The Indus Equation (PDF), Strategic Foresight Group, p. 29, retrieved 28 October 2014
  22. ^ a b c d e Four hydel projects over Chenab in J&K likely to be commissioned by 2028, Hindustan Times, 3 May 2025.
  23. ^ Power lant profile Barinium, Rsearchgate, accessed 18 May 2025.
  24. ^ Power lant profile Kirthai, power-technology.com, accessed 18 May 2025.
  25. ^ a b c d Centre to fast-track 4 hydro projects in Kishtwar, including dam at Pakal Dul, Indian Express, 7 May 2025.
  26. ^ Indus Waters Treaty Suspended: Modi Government Fast-Tracks Five Major Hydropower Projects in Jammu & Kashmir - Details Here, timesnownews.com, 28 Apr 2025.
  27. ^ "Dul Hasti dam and Hydroelectric Power Project". Tractebel. Archived from the original on 25 November 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  28. ^ Baglihar Briefing, Kashmir Life, 11 November 2015.
  29. ^ "Pakistan-India Relations" (PDF). Pakistani Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  30. ^ Power lant profile Sawalkot, power-technology.com, accessed 18 May 2025.
  31. ^ Sawalkot Project profile, indiainvestmentgrid.gov.in, accessed 18 May 2025.
  32. ^ Siltation renders Salal hydro-power project's future uncertain, Outlook, 31 July 2002.
  33. ^ Ramaswamy R. Iyer, Arbitration & Kishenganga project, The Hindu 25 June 2010.
  34. ^ CM Punjab inaugurates Head Marala Hydropower project, Radio Pakistan, November 05, 2018.
  35. ^ CITEREFSingh,_Irrigation_and_Soil_Salinity_in_the_Indian_Subcontinent2005}}, p=115.
  36. ^ Singh, N. T. (2005), Irrigation and Soil Salinity in the Indian Subcontinent: Past and Present, Lehigh University Press, ISBN 978-0-934223-78-2
  37. ^ a b c Timmu barrage, smec.com, accessed 18 May 2025.
  38. ^ "India joins the superlative club, we now have the world's highest rail bridge". 15 February 2013. Archived from the original on 20 September 2022. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  39. ^ "Chenab Rail bridge will be highest in the world". The Hindu. 17 January 2008. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2008.
  40. ^ Nag, Devanjana (16 January 2020). "Chenab bridge: World's highest rail bridge taller than Eiffel Tower, can withstand blasts!". The Financial Express. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2021.

Bibliography

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Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Chenab".
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chenab River.
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