Why in Broadcast?

• In a notice to Pakistan on January 25, India said that it has been compelled to call for the ‘modification’ of the 63 year old Indus Water Treaty owing to Pakistan’s persistent objections to the construction of hydel projects on the Indian side.

About Indus Waters Treaty

• The Indus river basin has six rivers Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and
• Sutlej; originating from Tibet and flowing through the Himalayan ranges to enter Pakistan, ending in the south of Karachi.
• In 1947, partition also cut the Indus river system into two.
• Both the sides were dependent on water from the Indus river basin for their irrigation.
• Therefore, infrastructure and equitable distribution was needed.
• Initially, the Interdominion accord of May, 1948 was adopted, under which India would supply water to Pakistan in exchange for an annual payment.
• This agreement, however, soon disintegrated as both the countries could not agree upon common interpretations.
• In 1951, both the countries applied to the World Bank for funding of their respective irrigation projects on Indus and its tributaries, which is when the Bank offered to mediate the conflict.
• Finally in 1960, after nearly a decade of negotiations, an agreement was reached between the two countries, leading to the signing of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) by Jawaharlal Nehru, Ayub Khan & W.A.B. Iliff.

Crux of the traety

• The treaty allocated the three western rivers— Indus, Chenab and Jhelum—to Pakistan for unrestricted use, barring certain non-consumptive, agricultural and domestic uses by India.
• The three Eastern rivers— Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — to India for unrestricted usage.
• 80% of the share of water or about 135 Million Acre Feet (MAF) went to Pakistan, leaving the rest 33 MAF or 20% of water for use by India.
• Besides, India is also allowed a minimum storage level on the western rivers it can store up to 3.75 MAF for conservation and flood storage purposes.
• It also required both the countries to establish a Permanent Indus Commission constituted by permanent commissioners on both sides.
• India has right to build ‘run of the river’ hydropower projects over the Jhelum, Chenab and Indus.
• The treaty also allows Pakistan to raise objections over such projects being built by India, if it does not find them to be compliant with the specifications.
• The IWT also provides a three step dispute resolution mechanism, under which issues can first be resolved at the commission or inter-Government level.
• If that fails, either side can approach the World Bank to appoint a Neutral Expert.

Objections raised under the treaty

• The treaty, became a source of dissatisfaction because

• There is a growing demand for water,
• Extensively technical nature of the document
• The western rivers flow through the conflicted region of Jammu and Kashmir.

• Pakistan raised objections to Indian project over the Kishanganga Hydro Electricity Project (KHEP).
• The work for KHEP was started in 2007 and was supposed to be completed by 2016.
• Due to Pakistan’s objection India agreed to lower the dam’s height from 97 metres to 37 metres.
• In 2010, Pakistan took the matter to the International Court of Arbitration. The Court gave its final ruling in December 2013, giving India a green signal for the project, subject to conditions.
• The project was then inaugurated in 2018, despite continued protests from Pakistan.
• Pakistan had objected to the Salal dam project in 1970 over design concerns, negotiations for which ended in 1978.
• Pakistan again objected to the Baglihar Hydropower project in the 2000.