IWT in abeyance central to correcting past blunders

The suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan after the Pahaigam attack highlights India’s assertive new outlook.The IWT was a historical blunder from the early years of our Independence.

- G Kishan Reddy

It was ostensibly signed as a symbol of goodwill by Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru and Pakistan President Ayub Khan at Karachi on September 19, 1960. The IWT in principle agreed to the distribution of the Indus system in the ratio of 80:20 between Pakistan and India. Apart from Pakistan getting a lion's share, the treaty allocated the waters of the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej) for the use of India and the waters of the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab) for the use of Pakistan. Further, a 10-year transition period was agreed upon, during which Pakistan would construct system of link canals on the western rivers for loss of access to the eastern rivers and this would be paid for by India. In order to compensate for the loss of four million acres in Pakistan that were irrigated by the three eastern rivers, it was suggested that canal replacement works would be constructed in Pakistan and funded by India. The cost of these replacement works was estimated at ₹83.3 crore, approximately ₹8,000 crore in today’s terms. Further, due to the World Bank's involvement, Pakistan would get grants to the tune of about ₹400 crore. India, which required over ₹100 crore to build its own link canals, would get only ₹30 crore and that too as loans.