Col Alok Mathur, SM (retd)
After surviving four Wars between India and Pakistan and series of Terrorist incidents, India suspended 65 years old Indus Water Treaty (IWT) on 24 April 2025 as a response to gruesome massacre of 26 Tourists by the terrorists of The Resistance Front (cover cell of Lashkar e Taiba) at Baisaran point, Pahalgam (Jammu-Kashmir, UT). The decision to suspend IWT means water flow from Western group of Rivers – Indus (Sindhu). Jhelum and Chenab and their tributaries like Kishanganga (Neelum)– will be now controlled by India. This is one of the most stringent measure adopted against Pakistan since 1960 against its state policy to harbour, protect, train, arm and finance Anti India Terror groups . India has so far refrained from suspending IWT on humanitarian grounds for Agricultural belt all along the Indus basin and course. India move will severely impact irrigation and drinking water supply to two of the four provinces of Pakistan namely Western Punjab and Sindh during the peak Summer months when the crows are thirsty.
The water flow from North to South in these three Rivers will be stopped immediately from wherever it is regulated through Dams, Run off river Hydro Power projects, regulators or sluice gates. Though the flow from natural channels and seepage will continue. During Monsoons, overflowing water will be released abruptly causing Flash floods, Earlier, there was a provision to inform well in advance if Water was being released or stopped to low lying villages along the course. It is a well-known fact Water takes its own course once checked.
Indus Water Treaty is a bilateral treaty between India and Pakistan on water distribution of six major Western Rivers namely Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum and Main River Indus. The former five are tributaries of Indus and merge in to it at various points. Indus and Sutlaj originate Mansarovar , Tibet. The group of Rivers is divided in to two clusters; Eastern Cluster has Satluj, Bea, Ravi. They are the life line of Western India and Western Cluster consists of Chenab, Jhelum and mother Indus.
They feed Punjab and Sindh province of Pakistan. The treaty was facilitated by World Bank. After series of Drafts by hydrologists, the final treaty was signed in Karachi, Sindh by Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, then PM of India and Field Marshal Ayub Khan, then President of Pakistan on 19 Sep 1960. The treaty was ratified by both countries and duly endorsed by World Bank. The treaty gives control of water three Eastern Rivers- Satluj. Beas and Ravi to India permits to build a multipurpose projects incorporating Huge Dams, reservoirs, Hydro Power Stations, spill overs and canal head-works. Canals and use water for Irrigation and Drinking Water schemes. The surplus water can be discharged in lower area but an advance adequate warning to be issued to Pakistan to ensure Farmers/ Villagers may clear off to safe zones.
The treaty also gives control of waters of three Western Rivers – Indus, Chenab and Jhelum – which have a much larger total annual water availably of 168 Million Acre Feet to Pakistan. It permits 30% (33 million acre feet) usage of water by India and 70 % (133 million acre feet ) of water to Pakistan. India can utilise the water for Hydro power station, navigation, irrigation, fishing but not to build any Dam and Water reservoir. Any structure to control of water to be approved and cleared by Pakistan.
The preamble of the IWT recognises the rights and obligations of both nations and optimum use of water resource from the Indus System of rivers in a spirit of goodwill, cooperation and friendship. IWT was considered one of the most successful water sharing treaty which has been respected by both nations who have fought four War since its inception but this time as Operation Sindoor is in progress, India has decided to suspend the treaty to protest against Terrorist attack by pak sponsored groups . Indian PM warned Pakistan Blood and Water cannot flow together in Indus.
Let’s study the Rivers of Western India and Eastern Punjab or historical area of Sapta Sidhu or greater Punjab and Jammu Kashmir of Pre partition United India.
River Indus is a major Trans Himalayan River of Asia and especially of Indian subcontinent. The Puranic name of the river is Sindhu or Hindu River. It is1380 kms long it was the location of Indus Valley civilisation long ago. It originates from Mansarovar Lake at Mount Kailash in Tibet area and travels East to West. It enters India near Demchok , touches Karu, Leh, Nimu, Talahati and crosses over to POK near Kargil and approaches Skardu ,turns South , touches Swabi , Dasu, Dera Ismail Khan, Miawali, Sukkur, Hyderabad in Pakistan and finally reach Arabian Sea at Karachi Sindh. The river has 11,20 ,000 sq km basin and annual discharge of 58000 sq metre per sec.
Pakistan has constructed 9 Dams / barrages on Indus River. Tarbelea Dam, Kalabagh Dam., Guddu barrage, Sukkur barrage, Kotli barrage, Taunasa barrage, Chasma barrage, Jinnah barrage and Sindh barrage is being planned just before River joins Arabian sea. We have small 100 megawatt hydro power project between Karu and Leh otherwise India has so far no control structures on Indus and let water smoothly go to POK and Pakistan.
Chenab River originates in Lahul Spiti region of Upper Himalayan Range. Puranic name of River is Ashikani River. Two mountain rivers Chandra and Bagha merge at Tandi near Keylong (Bara la cha la) in Himachal and flow from East to West and reaches Ramban, Reasi in Jammu area, touches Akhnoor and crosses over to Pakistan near Pallanwala area. It is 913 km long. The most of controversial water control structures are on this River. Kiru Hydro Electricity project 624 mw (HEP) Kishtwar District, Dul Hasti Khistwar (390 mw), lower Kainal HEP, Doda Disrict, Pakal Dul HEP, Kishtwar ( 540 mw ), Baglihar HEP Ramban ( 900 mw), Doda Distict, Salal Dam ( 690 mw), Reasi Distict. Baglihar and Salal can control Water flow towards Pakistan and are bone of contention. Ratle Dam is under construction at Doda. Chenab water can be controlled by India.
Jhelum River is a western most of the five Rivers of Punjab. The puranic name of the River is Vyath. It originates from Verinag spring located in Pir Panjal mountains. Greeks named it as Hydaspes and fought a major battle with Indian King Porus (Puru) in 326 BC. It is 725 kms long and a tributary to Chenab River, It travels through Wular Lake, Srinagar and crosses over to POK. Kishan Ganga meets Jhelum at Domel, then flows into Mangla Dam in Mirpur District of POK. Then, it flows through Pak Pujab and confluences with Chenab at Trimmu in Jhang District, the Last point, Most of Imp cities of Jammu Kashmir are on bank of Jhelum. India has built three HEP on Jhelum. Uri 1, Uri 2 at Baramulla and Kishanganga HEP (330 MW) at Bandipora . Pakistan has also built five Major Dams on Jhelum. India can partially control Jhelum Flow.
Ravi River is also one of the major rivers of Indian Subcontinent. As per Peranas, it’s ancient name is Iravati and also called Purushni. Geeks named it as Hydraotes. The river originates from Lahul Spiti Valley in Himalayas, takes full shape at Bara Bangal in Kangra District, The length of the river is 720 kms , The total catchment area is 14,442 sq kms. The course touches Bara basu, Dalhouise, Chamba, Talwara, Pathankot Madhopur. Then, it flows along India Pakistan border for 80 kms near Dera Baba Nanak and finally merges in to Chenab at Ahmadnagar Sial, India has built a Ranjit Sagar Dam 24 kms upstream from Madhopur at Village Thein in 1980 and three hydro-electricity projects at Baira, Suil HEP and Chamera 1 and 2 HEP in Kangra belt. India commissioned Barrage at Shahpur Kandi in 2025, thus utilising 100% water of Ravi. Madhopur head is the last point in India and upper Bari Doab canal originated from this point. Pakistan only gets water in Monsoons when river is overflowing.
Beas River originates from Beas Kund at Rohtang. Puranic name is Vipasha. Greeks identified it as Hyphasis. Alexender turned back home from bank of River Beas in 326 BC. It flows down North to south west along Manali, Kullu, Mandi, Panckkula, Beas, Govidwal. Sultanpur Lodhi and confluences with Satluj at Harike Pattan near Makhu in Punjab. The length of River is 470 kms . The drainage area is approx 20,000 sq kms. Pong Dam was built at Talwara in 1974 and Padoh Dam in 1977.
River Sutlaj a major river of South Asia and Subcontinent. It originates from Rakshas Tal in Tibet. Tibetian Name of River is Langqen Zhangbo (Elephant River). Puranic name is Sataduru, a river with 100 channels. The River is 309 km long. It travels initially Northwest and turns southwest at Shiplika Pass before entering India. It reaches Simla and Rupnagar, Ludhiana, Phillaur turns west merges with River Beas at Harike Pattan. It crosses over to Pakistan at Ferozpur. It travels near Bedian, Kasur and meets Chenab at Unch Pakistan, called Panchnad and finally debouches in Indus at Khairpur, west of Bhawalpur. The water is allocated to India. Bhakra Nagal is largest Dam in India and multipurpose project. Govid Sagar is largest Artificial Lake and Water reservoir in India. The mean annual average flow is 14 Million acre feet. It is the life line of Himachal, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan Sirhind Canal, Rajasthan Canal (Indira Gandhi Canal) originate from Harike Headworks irrigating Punjab and life line of Rajashtan deserts. Hussaniwallah headworks is last point in India from where Gang Canal is born and irrigates Ganganagar, Suratgarh, and Fazilka. Farmers of Punjab and Rajasthan worship this river.
Main Provisions of IWT
There were two groups of River, Eastern group consisting of Sutlaj , Beas and Ravi will be exclusive use of India and Western group consisting of Indus, Chenab and Jhelum for use of Pakistan. It will include all Lakes, tributary, delta, channels on these rivers. All other lakes, Creeks, tributary, channels, delta not included in five rivers will be treated as part of Great Indus system.
Un-utilised or under-utilised water by one country will not be acquired by other nation
10 years’ time will be given to Pakistan to build its canal system and allow water of its Rivers to be used.
India was forced to contribute 62. 6 million Sterling pounds to Pakistan for construction of new head works and canals in Pakistan. India paid the amount in 10 equal instalments even during 1962 and 1965 Wars.
- Both countries agreed to share data and cooperate for optimum use.
- Both nations to have a commissioner and a dispute solving mechanism. Indus commission to meet once a year.
- Both commissioners to submit annual report on construction of Dams or other structures on Rivers,
- Both will inform each other of future Plans of any construction of Dams/ Headworks/ Canals.
- Any Violation, the treaty may be cancelled , Both nations will not attack any Head works / Dams of each other.
The Indus Water Treaty was based on peace, harmony and Mutual Faith. India had wanted are view of treaty as overall share of water volume wise grossly in favour of Pakistan. India’s contention is the total annual flow in Indus system is 260 billion cubic metre, in which India can use only 78 billion cubic metres (30%) whereas Pakistan gets the Lion’s share (182 billion cubic metres) means 70 % of Total annual mean flow. India continued honouring the treaty in spite of wars but a series of Terrorist attacks sponsored by Pakistan has tested the patience of India. Pahalgam Terrorist attack has finally forced India to suspend it/ held in abeyance for first time as it is a total departure from IWT preamble of Peace and Harmony, Indian PM in address to nation on 12 May after successful completion of Operation Sindoor boldly conveyed that talk and terror, trade and terror are not acceptable. IWT will remain suspended. Chenab almost went dry about a week ago and residents of Akhnoor walked across two banks first time in last 65 years. Blood and Water shall not flow together in our holy Sindhu River.
test