Syed Marifat
If there is any single most important issue that mars bilateral relations among the countries of the subcontinent, it is water. The issues of cross border water distribution, utilization, management & mega irrigation affecting the upper & lower riparian countries are gradually taking centre stage in defining interstate relations as water scarcity increases & both drought & floods make life too often miserable. The water controversy between India & Pakistan lies due to the little consideration paid by British during the time of partition. When borders were drawn between India& Pakistan, the origin of river Beas, Chenab, Jhelum, & Sutlej was neglected. There are certain factors that led to this dispute: increasing population, weak treaties, climate change& poor political leadership. However, in regard to the bitter relations both countries World Bank mediated the Indus water treaty in 1960 which was signed between India & Pakistan. The Indus water treaty allocated three eastern rivers to India & three western rivers to Pakistan which is still exercised today. The provision of Indus water treaty gave Pakistan rights on waters of the Indus, Jhelum& Chenab which constitute 75% of the flow of whole Indus system.
Pakistan is a serious victim of water scarcity. Even after 68 years tension resides between both countries. Pakistan is likely to be classified as water scarce soon & India is said to become water scarce by the year 2050. Because of the location, size & contiguous borders with other south Asian countries, it is India; in its capacity as both upper & lower riparian that has come into conflict with most of its neighbours except Bhutan on the cross border water issues. Given an atmosphere of mistrust, an upper riparian India has a serious issue to resolve with lower riparian Pakistan and Bangladesh & despite being lower riparian, with the upper riparian Nepal. “Pakistan always alleges that Indian strategy to use water weapon against Pakistan is lethal. India is accumulating water by building dams on the rivers that flow into Pakistan. Upstream dams allow India to manipulate the flows of water at her will. It also diverts river courses during monsoons to release water towards Pakistan causing devastating floods”.
India has constructed 4 large & 16 small dams on river Jhelum. Additionally, a total of 62 dams are to be built on the rivers Chenab & Jhelum. India is also constructing a large dam in kargil on river Indus which will block major flow of water to Pakistan & it is said to be the world’s 3rd largest dam. In a latest development, India has announced to divert water of many rivers for utilization in the arid areas and for drinking purpose. India has also approved Chenab diversion project apparently to meet the drinking water needs of Jammu population. Some water experts from India are critical of the water diversion from Chenab river on technical& financial grounds.. India has also finalized plans to build a dam on river Kabul & set up Kama Hydroelectric project using 0.5 MAF of Pakistan’s water.
With tensions rising between India & Pakistan in the wake of a deadly attack that killed more than 40 Indian CRPF officers in Kashmir, New Delhi has decided to retaliate in part by cutting off some river water that flows downstream to Pakistan. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said the neighbouring country won’t get “even a single drop of water” from India if it continues to export militancy. It is in contrast with International law & against the Indus Basin Treaty.
(The author is a peace and conflict scholar from central Kashmir’s Budgam district. Views are her own)
