Ujh Multipurpose Project revived after a century to maximise Ravi river waters
Synopsis
A project conceived nearly a century ago and stalled for decades has finally been put on a fast track. The Modi government's revival of the Ujh Multipurpose Project in J&K, combined with the near-completion of Shahpurkandi, signals a strategic push to stop Ravi river waters from flowing into Pakistan — a move with both infrastructure and geopolitical weight.
Key Takeaways
Jitendra Singh announced the revival of the Ujh Multipurpose Project (MPP) in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir on 2 August .
The project was conceived nearly a century ago and had remained unexecuted for decades.
Construction will begin simultaneously with land acquisition, rather than waiting for the process to conclude.
WAPCOS Limited , under the Ministry of Jal Shakti , is the implementing agency.
The Shahpurkandi project , revived in 2019 after roughly four decades of delay, is now reportedly near completion.
Both projects aim to maximise India's share of Ravi river waters before they flow into Pakistan.
Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh on Sunday, 2 August announced that the Modi government has revived the long-stalled Ujh Multipurpose Project (MPP) in Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir, a scheme conceived nearly a century ago that had remained unexecuted for decades. The move is aimed at maximising India's share of Ravi river waters before they flow downstream into Pakistan.
Key Developments
Singh held a detailed review meeting with officials of WAPCOS Limited, a government undertaking under the Ministry of Jal Shakti tasked with implementing the project. During the meeting, officials outlined a phased execution roadmap under which construction activities will commence simultaneously with the ongoing land acquisition process — rather than waiting for all land acquisition to conclude first.
'Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, long-pending national projects are being taken forward with renewed urgency,' the minister stated. He directed WAPCOS to expedite execution while maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficiency, and advised the agency to explore innovative implementation strategies to ensure timely completion.
Decades of Delay and Strategic Stakes
According to Singh, the Ujh Multipurpose Project was conceived nearly a century ago but remained in limbo for decades. The Shahpurkandi project, another Ravi river initiative, had similarly been pending for roughly four decades before being revived in 2019 and is now reportedly near completion. Singh noted that the prolonged delays meant that waters of the Ravi River and its tributaries continued to flow into Pakistan — a strategic concern that lends additional urgency to both projects.
Notably, the revival of the Ujh MPP in 2026 follows the near-completion of Shahpurkandi, suggesting a sequenced approach to unlocking the full potential of India's treaty-allocated water resources on the Ravi basin.
What the Government Said
'The revival of the Shahpurkandi project in 2019, which is now almost complete, and the revival of the Ujh Multipurpose Project in 2026 reflect the government's resolve under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to realise long-delayed projects, optimise the use of India's water resources and deliver tangible benefits to the people,' Singh explained.
The minister's review meeting also covered site-related requirements that WAPCOS is currently finalising, with the implementing agency expected to begin ground-level construction activities in the near term.
Impact on Jammu and Kashmir
The Ujh MPP is expected to deliver irrigation, hydropower, and water-storage benefits to Jammu and Kashmir, a region that has historically seen limited returns from its river systems due to project delays. The phased construction model is designed to accelerate on-ground progress while administrative processes run in parallel.
With Shahpurkandi nearing the finish line and Ujh MPP now formally back on track, the Centre's push to fully utilise India's Ravi water entitlements is entering a critical phase — one that will be closely watched for both its infrastructure outcomes and its geopolitical implications.
Point of View
But the geopolitical subtext is hard to miss — every litre of Ravi water captured is a litre that does not reach Pakistan. What deserves scrutiny is the execution model: beginning construction while land acquisition is still ongoing has accelerated projects elsewhere but has also generated legal and community disputes. The government's record on Shahpurkandi — revived in 2019 and still only 'near completion' five years later — suggests that 'revival' and 'delivery' are not the same milestone. The real test for Ujh MPP will be whether the phased model translates into a firm commissioning date, not just a fresh round of review meetings.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ujh Multipurpose Project?
The Ujh Multipurpose Project is a long-pending infrastructure scheme in Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir, designed to harness the waters of the Ujh river — a tributary of the Ravi — for irrigation, hydropower, and water storage. Conceived nearly a century ago, it was formally revived in 2026 under the Modi government with WAPCOS Limited as the implementing agency.
Why had the Ujh MPP remained stalled for so long?
According to the government, the project remained in limbo for decades due to unresolved land acquisition and implementation gaps. The delay meant that Ravi river waters and those of its tributaries continued to flow into Pakistan rather than being utilised within India.
What is the current status of the Shahpurkandi project?
The Shahpurkandi project, another Ravi basin initiative that had been pending for roughly four decades, was revived in 2019 and is now reportedly near completion. Its progress has been cited by the government as evidence of its ability to deliver on long-stalled water infrastructure.
How will the Ujh MPP be executed?
The project will follow a phased implementation model in which construction activities begin simultaneously with the ongoing land acquisition process, rather than waiting for all land parcels to be acquired first. WAPCOS Limited is also finalising site-related requirements.
Who is overseeing the Ujh MPP revival?
Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh is overseeing the project's progress. He chaired a detailed review meeting with WAPCOS Limited officials and directed the agency to expedite execution while maintaining quality, safety, and efficiency standards.
