Indus Water Treaty

India sends notice to Pakistan to amend the 1960 Indus Water Treaty.

On January 27, India declared its intention to amend the 62-year-old Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan.
It cited Pakistan’s “intransigence” in resolving disputes over the Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower projects, both located in Jammu and Kashmir.
Furthermore, India objected to Pakistan’s “unilateral” decision to seek arbitration at The Hague.

Key Provisions
- The Indus river system comprises the main Indus River, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
  - The basin is primarily shared by India and Pakistan, with China and Afghanistan having a minor share.
- The waters of three rivers, the Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas, were allotted to India for exclusive usage in a treaty between India and Pakistan in 1960.
- While the waters of the Western rivers, Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, were allotted to Pakistan.
  - Under the Treaty, India was permitted to use them for specific residential, non-consumptive, and agricultural purposes.
- India has also been granted the right to create hydroelectricity through run-of-river (RoR) projects on the Western Rivers, subject to particular design and operating conditions.
- It was necessary for both countries to form a Permanent Indus Commission comprised of permanent commissioners from both sides.
- The commission will serve as a venue for exchanging river information, for ongoing cooperation, and as the first point of contact for conflict resolution.

Firstly, the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan raises several difficulties.
Pakistan expressed complaints during the Tulbul Project, causing it to be halted in 1987.
Another point of contention with the Indus River Treaty is that it was signed by the then-PM of India rather than the then-President of India.
In addition, Pakistan established the LOBD [Left Bank Outfall Drain] project without the agreement of Indian officials.
It flows from Gujarat’s Rann of Katch and threatens floods in the surrounding areas.
- Moreover, India has objected, claiming that it violates the IWT.

To utilise the waters of the Eastern rivers that have been allotted to India for exclusive use, the following dams have been built:
- Bhakra Dam on Satluj,
- Pong and Pandoh Dam on Beas and
- Thein (Ranjit Sagar) on Ravi.
Other projects, like the Beas-Sutlej Link, Madhopur-Beas Link, Indira Gandhi Nahar Project, etc., have assisted India in using virtually all (95%) of the waters of Eastern rivers.
However, it is reported that approximately 2 million acre-feet (MAF) of water from Ravi is still flowing unutilised to Pakistan below Madhopur each year.
The subsequent efforts have been taken to halt the flow of these Indian waters for use in India:
- Shahpurkandi Project
- Construction of Ujh multipurpose project
- The 2nd Ravi Beas link below Ujh
Additionally, the three projects listed above will assist India in utilising its share of the waters granted under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.

Firstly, India should take steps to utilise its entitlement to the waters of Western Rivers completely.
- The infrastructure to utilise the waters has remained underdeveloped in J&K.
Some experts believe that if Pakistan escalates its hostilities in the future, India should stop the meetings of the Permanent Commission.
- If the initial state of dispute resolution is not operational, the second two steps of three-tier dispute resolution do not take effect.
- As a result, India might utilise this as a kind of pressure on Pakistan.
In addition, India should consider using climate change as a “change in circumstances” to discuss renegotiating the IWT.
The standing committee on water resources recommends renovating the canal systems in Punjab and Rajasthan to boost their water-carrying capacity.

Pic Courtesy: The Hindu

Content Source: The Hindu