- Why in news
- On 2 August 2026, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh reviewed the phased implementation plan of the Ujh Multipurpose Project in Kathua, J&K. Work will start while the remaining land is being acquired.
- What it is
- The Ujh Multipurpose Project is planned on the Ujh River, a main tributary of the Ravi, in Kathua district of Jammu & Kashmir. It combines power generation, irrigation and drinking and industrial water supply. It aims to use Ravi waters that now flow on into Pakistan.
- Location
- The project is on the Ujh River, a main tributary of the Ravi, in Kathua district of J&K.
- Power capacity
- It is designed to generate about 186 MW to 212 MW.
- Irrigation reach
- Nearly 90,000 hectares in Kathua and Samba (J&K) and Pathankot and Gurdaspur (Punjab) are to be irrigated. Kathua also gets drinking water.
- Implementing agency
- WAPCOS Ltd, a Government of India undertaking under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, has been entrusted with implementation.
- Indus Waters Treaty status
- Ravi, Satluj and Beas are India's three eastern rivers under the Treaty, which is now in abeyance.
- Shahpurkandi link
- The Shahpurkandi project was revived in 2019 and is almost complete; Ujh was revived in 2026.
Don’t confuse with Ujh vs Shahpurkandi: Ujh is a multipurpose project on the Ujh tributary in J&K. Shahpurkandi is a separate Ravi project, revived in 2019 and now almost complete.
Don’t confuse with Ravi vs Chenab: Ravi, Satluj and Beas are the eastern rivers of the Indus system allotted to India under the treaty. Chenab belongs to the western rivers.
Places in the news: 26 Prelims questions since 2013, rising (12% of news questions in 2022–26); they test location and why it matters.
Why it matters
- Uses Ravi waters that otherwise flow to Pakistan, adding irrigation, drinking water and power.
- Adds a border-management dimension by restricting unregulated flows along the riverbed.
Problems
- Land acquisition is still incomplete, which can delay work.
- The project was long delayed, about a century since it was conceived, so cost and timelines need monitoring.
Way forward
- Phase the work and coordinate all stakeholders, with close monitoring for timely completion.
- Coordinate J&K and Punjab on the sharing of benefits.
Put in your answer
Treaty in abeyance: Cite as context for India optimising its share of eastern rivers while the Indus Waters Treaty is in abeyance.
- 2013Mains GS3 · Q17Define run-of-river hydroelectricity and how it differs from other hydro projects.
- 2016Mains GS1 · Q18Account of Indus Water Treaty and its ecological, economic, political implications today.
- 2017Mains GS3 · Q8Discuss advantages of river linking and its possible environmental impact.
- 2009Prelims Q124Whether Baglihar Power Project was within Indus Water Treaty and built with foreign loans.
- 2021Prelims Q53Which Indus tributary joins the Indus directly, given three others pour into it?
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: River project on Ravi waters in J&K; a lasting topic, but a review meeting gives few testable facts.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.