NEW DELHI: India has formally notified Pakistan of its intention to seek modifications to the Indus Water Treaty, citing significant changes in circumstances that necessitate a review. Sources from news agency PTI indicate that this move follows a similar notice sent in January 2023 regarding amendments to the 1960 agreement. The current notice was prompted by Pakistan’s lack of cooperation in implementing the treaty.
Under the Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960, India is allocated all the water from the eastern rivers—Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi—amounting to around 33 million acre-feet (MAF) annually for unrestricted use. Conversely, Pakistan receives the majority of the water from the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—totaling approximately 135 MAF annually.
The treaty allows India to generate hydroelectric power through run-of-the-river projects on the western rivers, subject to specific design criteria. Pakistan has the right to object to the design of these Indian hydroelectric projects. Overall, Pakistan receives about 80 percent of the water in the Indus drainage system, while India has access to approximately 33 million acre-feet of water from the total 168 million acre-feet available.
Currently, India utilizes over 90 percent of its allocated share from the Indus system, tapping into resources across several states, including Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. In contrast, Pakistan heavily depends on the Indus system, especially in its Punjab province, which is vital for agricultural production.
Tensions often arise when India seeks to use its allocated water or construct permitted dams. A notable instance is the Tulbul Navigation Project, which India expedited after the Uri terror attack, but has faced objections from Pakistan, leading to heightened tensions. This project, known as the Wullar Barrage project to Pakistan, has been contentious since its suspension in 1987 due to Pakistan’s concerns.
Despite India’s attempts to negotiate a resolution, Pakistan has been reluctant to engage, as evidenced by its refusal to discuss the matter during five meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission from 2017 to 2022. Recently, at Pakistan’s insistence, the World Bank has initiated processes involving both a neutral expert and a Court of Arbitration.
The Indus Waters Treaty permits India to irrigate 1.34 million acres in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, but currently, only 642,000 acres are irrigated in these territories. Additionally, India can store up to 3.60 million acre-feet of water from the western rivers, yet there has been minimal development of storage capacity in Jammu and Kashmir. The treaty also allows India to build run-of-river dams on the Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus without impeding water flow, granting India the ability to temporarily restrict flows to Pakistan under certain conditions.
