India wants to renegotiate water-sharing treaty with Pakistan

Deal governs six rivers and disputes have occurred over various river projects

- Nirmala Ganapathy India Bureau Chief

India’s move to renegotiate the Indus Water Treaty, a 62-year-old water-sharing agreement with Pakistan that has withstood three wars, is the latest signal that water conflict is on a slow boil in South Asia.

India sent a notice on Jan 25 to Pakistan seeking renegotiation of the treaty, which governs watersharing for six rivers the Indus, Chenab, Jhelum, Beas, Ravi and Sutlej.

Water-sharing is a sensitive issue in South Asia, where river systems often criss-cross borders.

The treaty divides the six rivers equally between the two countries, but gives Pakistan control over 80 per cent of the Indus water system. However, Pakistan, which is downstream, has continued to feel vulnerable and has objected to Indian projects on the rivers under its control.

The trigger for the latest round of disagreements is the 330MW Kishanganga project on the Jhelum River and the 850MW Ratle project on the Chenab River.

Over the past decade, Pakistan has objected many times to the construction of the two Indian hydropower projects, contending that they would impact water flow and change the course of the rivers. India has maintained that they are yun-of-the-river” projects” allowed under the treaty.

The World Bank, which is a guarantor under the treaty, has started a parallel process of appointing a neutral expert and also initiated proceedings at the arbitration court.