India's share of Indus waters can recharge Punjab aquifers

In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, India decided to put the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance. Transboundary water-sharing agreements are vital to maintaining harmonious international relations in the long run. India also shares water with Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and China. We need to prioritize full usage within treaties before we reject any such treaty.

- Vivek Singh Grewal

Under the IWT, India has the right to use all of the water of the three eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—while Pakistan has the right to use most of the three western rivers, Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.

Officials of the jal shakti ministry have stated that not a drop of India's share of water under the treaty would be allowed to flow into Pakistan. Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said the suspension of IWT will prove to be a blessing for our agriculture in states such as Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir.

But India is yet to develop the infrastructure needed to stop the water from flowing downstream to Pakistan and has not yet fully utilized its water rights. The government plans to deploy short-, medium-, and long-term measures to implement its current stance. In the short term, it is considering de-silting reservoirs to increase capacity. In the medium- and long-term, India may expedite the completion of ongoing projects like Shahpurkandi and Ujh, or consider constructing new dams.

While these steps are helpful, they face significant challenges, including technical, environmental, and political constraints. Therefore, it is crucial that India broadens its thinking and looks for more innovative measures to safeguard its water rights.