NEW DELHI: India's decision to suspend Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is one of the most stringent actions against Pakistan as the 1960 treaty had survived three wars - 1965, 1971 and Kargil - and multiple terror attacks, largely on humanitarian grounds despite the treaty being in focus as a key tool to punish Islamabad for its nefarious acts.
The decision means water flow from the western rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab and their tributaries - will be stopped immediately from wherever it is regulated through dams or whatever little structures India has on these rivers. Though the flow from natural channels will continue, India's move will impact irrigation and drinking water supply to some extent in two of the four provinces of Pakistan during the peak of summer when it needs water the most.
Subsequently, India will have to increase its water storage capacity and work on Kishanganga and Ratle hydro-electric projects. Only then will India have more control over water in the long run. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, Netherlands has already endorsed the Indian govt's stand of resolving the dispute on design and water usage of the projects through a World Bank-appointed neutral expert.
IWT was signed between India and Pakistan for sharing of waters of the Indus Basin. Under the treaty, the total waters of the eastern rivers - Sutlej, Beas and Ravi - was allocated to India for unrestricted use while the waters of western rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab - was allocated largely to Pakistan.
India is, however, permitted to use the water of western rivers for domestic use, irrigation and generation of hydro-electric power. But India has not been fully utilising its legal share due to lack of storage capacity.
Though India has right to create water storage capacity up to 3.6 million acre-feet on western rivers as per IWT, not enough storage capacity has been created. Besides, out of estimated power potential of 20,000 MW, which can be harnessed from power projects on western rivers, only 3,482 MW capacity has been constructed.
The decision means water flow from the western rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab and their tributaries - will be stopped immediately from wherever it is regulated through dams or whatever little structures India has on these rivers. Though the flow from natural channels will continue, India's move will impact irrigation and drinking water supply to some extent in two of the four provinces of Pakistan during the peak of summer when it needs water the most.
Subsequently, India will have to increase its water storage capacity and work on Kishanganga and Ratle hydro-electric projects. Only then will India have more control over water in the long run. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, Netherlands has already endorsed the Indian govt's stand of resolving the dispute on design and water usage of the projects through a World Bank-appointed neutral expert.
IWT was signed between India and Pakistan for sharing of waters of the Indus Basin. Under the treaty, the total waters of the eastern rivers - Sutlej, Beas and Ravi - was allocated to India for unrestricted use while the waters of western rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab - was allocated largely to Pakistan.
India is, however, permitted to use the water of western rivers for domestic use, irrigation and generation of hydro-electric power. But India has not been fully utilising its legal share due to lack of storage capacity.
Though India has right to create water storage capacity up to 3.6 million acre-feet on western rivers as per IWT, not enough storage capacity has been created. Besides, out of estimated power potential of 20,000 MW, which can be harnessed from power projects on western rivers, only 3,482 MW capacity has been constructed.
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