Marusudar river or Maru Sudar river is the largest river tributary of the

Chenab River The Chenab River () is a major river that flows 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, Chandra and Bhaga, which rise in the upper Himalayas in the Lahaul regi ...

, beginning at the Nunkun glacier of the Warwan Valley and joining the Chenab at Bhandarkoot in the Kishtwar district. As of 2021, 1000MW

Pakal Dul Dam The Pakal Dul Dam is an under construction concrete-face rock-fill dam on the Marusudar river, a tributary of the Chenab River, in Kishtwar district of the Indian Jammu and Kashmir. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power genera ...

the 800MW Bursar Hydroelectric Project are under construction on this river.

Origin

The Marusudar river starts from the Nunkun glacier of the Warwan Valley of the Kishtwar district and joins the Chenab river at Bhandarkoot,

Kishtwar Kishtwar is a town, municipality and administrative headquarter of the Kishtwar District in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The district was carved out of the Doda district in 2007. It is located in the Jammu division. T ...

. It is long and the largest river tributary to the Chenab river.

Controversies over Dams

In 2018, locals protested against the Bursar Dam project, demanding cancellation of this dam. While environmentalists have raised concern over the

, claiming that it will have an impact on biodiversity and cause villages to be flooded. According to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), this project will affect 18 hamlets, affecting over 17,000 people, and clearing around 1150 ha of forest area. As per EIA, the dam could obstruct fish migration during the season, impacting endemic fish species and reproductive areas. This involves a site visit and the MoEFF's environmental approval. However, the proposal was approved without a site visit, causing indignation among the locals.

References

{{Reflist Rivers of India Rivers of Jammu and Kashmir Dam controversies