Indus Water Treaty (IWT)

Eastern rivers belong to India

Western rivers belong to Pakistan. Indus Jehlum and Chenab

Indus is a shared river. 10% of Indus river water can be consumed by India. The rest
is of Pakistan. India can use the water of the western rivers but only for hydel
generation. It can build water reservoirs on the western rivers for electricity
generation. It is conditional.
Main flow of the river would not be disturbed. Natural water channel would remain
the same. India cannot divert the flow neither the main river nor the tributary of the
main river
1960-80 India was not allowed to build dams--- bcz to give pak enough time to build
water utilization and consumption capacity by building dams and canals
The conditions are as follows:
1) it can build reservoirs on the western rivers only - India can build dams only when
the water need downstream in Pakistan is less.
2) India must share the design of the project with Pakistan before initiating it.
3) Pakistan can raise objections on the height and size of the dam.
4) India is bound to facilitate Pakistan observers team inspect the under
construction project upstream.
5) India cannot divert the flow of the rivers. diversion is through the canals and
barrages or tunnels.

7) a. In case of disagreement between India and Pakistan, the case may be

bilaterally resolved through Indus water commission.

b. If it fails, and if the issue is related to technical issues then it may be referred to
neutral observers. Both countries appoint their neutral observers. Check violation
in height, spell ways, etc.

c. In case these two fail the issue refer to international court of Arbitration(ICA)

It may even be referred to World bank as it is the facilitator of the Indus Water
Treaty. But if conflict is legal then it must be referred to ICA International court of
arbitration.

Problems
 1) Dangerous decline in the flow of the western rivers. Almost 50% cut in the
flow of all 3 western rivers. India claims that the flow has reduced due to less
rainfall because of climate change. Pakistan rejects the argument because
rainfall contributes 33% of the total water influx of the western rivers, melting
of glaciers contributes 67%. (source: world bank). Therefore, the flow should
not have reduced this much. Real reason behind the decline in the flow are
dams built by india on western rivers Kishanganga, Buglihar, Ratlee, Salal
etc. secondly Diversions are made by India Specially Wuller barrage.
2) Pakistan is overwhelmingly dependent on western river for agriculture in
Punjab and Sindh (70%), 30% domestic life is dependent on these rivers, 40%
of industry also depends on them. Mangla dam is on Jehlum, tarbela dam is
on Indus river. So there is massive dependence on these rivers. Water life of
Pakistan is seriously in danger.
Solutions

Pakistan must increase its need of water and stop the wastage of water into the sea. In Asia, Pakistan is
the top water waster. From May to October, 80% of water influx. The water need is less. Therefore,
majority of water is wasted into the sea (world bank). It can be prevented by building dams and canals.
Agriculture needs to be expanded. So water need has to be increased. The more dams, canals, the more
water would be needed. Then we would be able to stop India’s violations.

weak point of Pak

ICA-- 2013 India presented the case. Neutral observer certified the stance of pak
India violated the height 33 feet height. technically pak won the case but
practically didn't
as India demanded the court to ask Pak to provide data regarding the water
wastage pak makes into the sea. Pak failed to provide the data as does wastes
water into the sea. successfully exploited by India to continue the construction of
new and more dams. Therefore,
pak shd build water reservoirs and Canals to increase the water need of the country
and stop the wastage into the sea and stop India from violation

Second solution. Pakistan needs to fight its case more proactively. By accessing the world bank and ICA.
We need to hire experts (legal and technocrats) Case study Pak-India water dialogue in WB
Newyork,2017. India dominated not because its stance was correct rather it was
well prepared and Pak team was not Indian delegation was compriosing upon
Technocrats legal experts and diplomats while pak team was comprising upon
diplomats and politicians. not a single expert of river, dam or e=legal Right Man for
the right job legal, dam , river experts
Alongwith Indus water treaty Pak shd buiold its case on Geneva convention on
rivers furthermore, Pak also strengthen its case on the bases on the bilatetral water
treaties across the world
 Another Problem

India wants to renegotiate the Indus water treaty. India has sent two notices to pak
one 2023another in 2024. Pak must re-negotiate the IWT with India
3rdly , Pakistan doesn't take any step for controlling the water wastage into the sea
Reason > decline in the flow of rivers due to climate change. Unprecedented increase in the water
utilization because there has been an increase in population, agriculture need of water has increased,
industry need has increased. 3rdly, Pakistan doesn't take any step for controlling the
water wastage into the sea. resultantly pak water need is less. 4th, the IWT 6
decades old now needs to be renegotiated.

Therefore, India wants to renegotiate. But Pakistan is reluctant to do that. Pak has not replied to
the letter yet. first of all it doesn't feel the need high may not be correct approach
may hurt in future. bcz one of the key point of IWT is the treaty is subjected to
renegotiation with the consent of the states
Proper preparedness (Self Study)

KALABAGH

Sindh wants the share in Chenab and Jehlum as per IRSA agreement in 1992. According to it, Sindh has a
percentage of share in it. But Sindh does not get that because Punjab consumes it and stores it in
Mangla.

When Sindh needs water, Punjab is storing water. Sindh’s cultivation is a month before Punjab because
Punjab is aggriculturating during that time. Therefore, Sindh does not get its share.

Sindh also says that Kalabagh’s headworks will be in Punjab. Punjab is already exploiting in the case of
Mangla.

Moreover, thal canal will be built in Punjab, then major flow of water will be in Punjab. Therefore, Sindh
does not agree. marso marso Sindh na deson. (:

CCI meetings are also not conducted.

Punjab says that water need has increased. And there has been a dangerous decline
in the rivers. That’s why we don’t release the water. And Sindh receives more water
than its share from Indus.
But Sindh says that all the agriculture land of Sindh cannot be irrigated by Indus
river. Sindh also says that it receives more water than needed but it doesn’t need it
at that time of the year. Sindh does not have storage capacity. Dams cannot be
built in Sindh. There are 450 cites eligible for dams and more than 300 are in KPK.
KPK says 65% of area of kalabagh dams is in KPK but headworks are in Punjab and
Punjab takes royalty. It is not acceptable for kpk.
KPK also says that central KPK (Nowshera etc) will be endangered because water
level will be increased so cultivation will become difficult.
LBOD (left bank out drain) canal. Built in 80s or 90s. it is below the sea level. So it is
unable to throw water in sea properly. Therefore, there is water logging. So further
encroachment of coastal area by the sea. Arabian sea has engulfed 1000s of acres
of land.

IRSA(Indus River System Authority)

IRSA --10% of the water jehlum and Jenam belongs Sindh, while 90% belong Punjab
Problem> Sindh doesn't receive its share from Jehlum and Chenab.
1. firstly, decline in the flow of the rivers 50%
2. 2ndly, demand in Punjab increased, water need of Punjab increased
3. Thirdly, Sindh receives more than its needed water from Indus river
4. Fourth and major reason> When Sindh needs water, Punjab stores it Mangla.
The agriculturation time in Sindh is almost 25 days earlier to Punjab.
Therefore, it needs water first and more but by then Punjab stores in Mangla.
Resultantly, decline in the flow of the river indus into Sindh on which it is
overwhelmingly dependent.
Problem--
The more the canals being built the more the water diversions from the main river.
Resultantly more cut in the water share of Sindh. Sindh does not get it due share
from Jehlum and Chenab. Furthermore, there is already decline the flow of Indus.
Now Pakistan has stuck in seriously tough situation. On
one hand it needs more water to increase its water life which is just 33 days. While
world standard set by WB is minimum 120 days. Therefore, extreme shortage of
water from December to May. Pak becomes a water scarce nations in these months.
It needs dams and canals to increase the water life of the country.
Pakistan also needs to build dams and canals to reduce the
devastation of floods in Pak e.g. Kalabagh was constructed it would have stored 10
MAF (Million Acre Field). Diamer Basha would have stored 8.1 MAF while the total
floods size in Indus river in 2022 was 26 MAF. Only two dams of kalabagh and Basha
would have reduced the intensity of floods from 26 MAF to 8 MAF within control that
may not have caused the destructions. On the other hand, the flood water would
have been stored for the needed time for agriculture and hydel generation.
But the Problem is the water flow in normal times is less which
cannot fill such mega projects the sooner. If Kalabagh is constructed, then it would
need 6 years the minimum to fill it. Diamer Basha Dam would need five years.

2ndly, if canals are built like Greater Thal Canal or any other e.g. 6 new and small
canals are planned to be built in Punjab to irrigate southern Punjab areas up till
Cholistan. The more the canals being built the more the water would be diverted
from the main flow of Indus river. That would cause more water shortage in Sindh
Province. Therefore, Sindh province has always opposed any new project on Indus.
Therefore, Sindh has always opposed any new project on Indus river be it a dam like
Kalabagh or canal like Greater Thal Canal.

To resolve the inter-provincial dispute IRSA Commission

It comprises upon five members, one member from each province headed by the
member from the center. It is necessary that all the five members jointly approve or
disapprove a project
in case of disagreement, even, by one member, the issue would be referred to
Council of Common Interest(CCI). It comprises upon the PM and CMs, IRSA
commission meeting was held. where member from Sindh opposed. Therefore, as
per law, the case is referred to CCI. CCI meeting should be conducted and resolve
the issue the sooner. Otherwise, once again federating crises would emerge. where
the smaller provinces especially Sindh concerns would intensify and oppose any
such project. Therefore, CCI must amicably resolve the emerging dispute that may
endanger the federation once again.