JAMMU, May 22: The Chenab River, also known as a moon river, is a major tributary of the Indus River holding significant historical and cultural importance in the South Asian region.
Chenab is also a vital source of irrigation for agriculture, hydropower generation besides supporting a rich biodiversity. The Chenab, known as Asikni in the Rigveda, has been significant in the Vedic period and is mentioned in the ancient chronicles and hymns.
As per the historians, the Army of Alexander the Great crossed the Indus River, which included the combined flow of rivers like the Chenab, and established Alexandria near the confluence of the Indus and the Panjnad (Chenab and other rivers).
The River Chenab is Chandrabhaga (Crescent Moon) in its headwaters. It has been described as the River Asikni in Rigveda, and the Acesines for the ancient Greek. From sparse mountain settlements of Lahaul to the urban centers of Sialkot, more than 10 million people live and prosper along the River Chenab.
The River Chenab was the site of a significant battle between the Sikhs and the Afghans. This river also stands as a central figure in many love stories and folk traditions of the subcontinent, particularly in the Punjab region.
The Partition of India in 1947 had a significant impact on the cultural significance of the Chenab River as it now flows through Pakistan.
The Chenab is a crucial source of water for irrigation, supplying water to crops in the plains of Punjab. This river’s flow is harnessed for hydropower generation, contributing to the energy needs of the region.
This river supports a rich biodiversity, including diverse fish populations and other wildlife.
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), reached between India and Pakistan in 1960, allocates the waters of the Chenab and other rivers to India and Pakistan.
The Chenab’s water resources and the related projects are closely watched by both India and Pakistan, highlighting its sensitive role in their bilateral relations.
The Chenab River is more than just a river while it is a historical and cultural landmark that connects land, people, and history, playing a vital role in the lives of communities along its course.
The Chenab is formed by the confluence of two streams, Chandra and Bhaga, in the western (Punjab) Himalayas in India’s Himachal Pradesh state.
It flows in the west through Jammu and Kashmir between the steep cliffs of the Siwalik Range (south) and the Lesser Himalayas (north). Turning southwest, it flows into Pakistan, descending from the uplands into the broad alluvial lowlands of Punjab province.
After receiving the Jhelum River near Trimmu, the Chenab empties into the Sutlej River, a tributary of the Indus River. Its total length is about 605 miles (974 km), and it feeds several irrigation canals on its way.
The River Chenab, which translates as the Moon River is the largest of the five tributaries of River Indus. It flows for about 974 kilometers from the High Himalayas of Lahaul to the forests of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and into the plains of Pakistan.
Its main tributaries in India include Miyar, Marusudhar and Tawi. In the vast plains of Punjab in Pakistan, it is met by Jhelum, Ravi and Sutlej to form the mighty Panjnad before it meets the Indus. Its catchment, spreads across 67,430 kms and is shared between the two countries.
Hydro-power projects operational and under construction on the river have an installed capacity of more than 5000 MW (Central Electricity Authority 2024), and its canals irrigate hundreds of thousands of acres in Pakistan and India.
The Indus Water Treaty (1960) classifies Chenab as a ‘Western River’ and states that India shall be under an obligation to let flow all the waters of the Western Rivers.
Today, Chenab has been dammed several times over for hydropower in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and for irrigation in Pakistan.
Chenab has always been the river of love and union. It has been bringing together zaiths, languages, arts, trade routes, humans and non-humans throughout its basin.
Its origin is a ‘Sacred mandala’ in Buddhist texts and a meeting place of lovers in the Hindu lore. Its fish sanctuaries protect and celebrate endangered fish. Shrines along its banks welcome both Hindus and Muslims.
