logo
India's Indus Treaty Suspension Leads To Water Crisis In Pakistan: Report

India's Indus Treaty Suspension Leads To Water Crisis In Pakistan: Report

NDTV2 days ago

Quick Read
Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed.
A Pakistan report reveals a 13.3% water shortfall from the Indus River, impacting Kharif crops in that country's Punjab province, due to India's suspension of a water-sharing treaty in retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack.
New Delhi:
A Pakistan government report indicates a 13.3 per cent year-on-year shortfall in water drawn from the Indus River System - and supplied to already water-starved farms in the Punjab province - following India halting a 1960 water-sharing treaty for the Pahalgam terror attack.
The report by Pak's Indus River System Authority said 124,500 cusecs were released from the Indus basin to dams on June 5, compared to the nearly 144,000 cusecs this time last year.
The shortfall, experts said, will affect the sowing of Kharif, or monsoonal, crops. Monsoon rains could improve this supply but, at least till then, crops in Pak's Punjab province are at stake.
"In Pakistan, there is less water in rivers and reservoirs connected to the Indus River System, because of which farmers there are in a crisis. The sowing of Kharif crops is underway in Pak..." AK Bajaj, the ex-Chairman of the Central Water Commission, told NDTV.
Mr Bajaj said the particular problem facing Pak is that the monsoon only reaches Punjab province by the end of June or the first week of July. Till then, he said, the crisis could get bigger.
Media reports point to a nearly 21 per cent water shortage in Pak for the early Kharif season, which usually extends to June second week, due to India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty.
The Indus Water Treaty was signed by India's Jawaharlal Nehru and Pak's Ayub Khan (File).
Pakistan must also battle a severe heatwave predicted this week; on Monday morning Karachi residents were warned of excessively hot and humid conditions for the next 24 hours at least.
The maximum temperature predicted was 37 degrees Celsius.
Heatwaves have also been predicted for Balochistan, which has recorded temperatures six degrees above normal for this time of year. The Sindh province has also been warned.
Indus River System
The Indus basin is fed mainly by the Ravi, the Jhelum, and the Indus itself, all three of which were allotted to Pak under the Indus Waters Treaty but flow through India before crossing over.
The agreement gives India rights over the eastern rivers - i.e., the Sutlej, Beas, and Chenab.
It also gives India the right to use some waters from the western rivers - those allotted to Pak - so long as its usage does not significantly affect the amount of water flowing into Pakistan.
NDTV Explains | Story Of Indus Waters Treaty, Partition, Planning, Pak Impact
By suspending the treaty as retaliation for the Pahalgam attack, in which 26 people were killed, Delhi has been able to control, to some extent, the western rivers and flow of water to Pakistan.
It also means, Mr Bajaj told NDTV, that Pak is at "increased risk of floods" because India does not now have to, and is not, sharing data about the water level of rivers in the Indus system.
"...in such a situation, when the water level of connected rivers increases during the monsoon, it can increase the risk of floods in Pakistan, and it may have to face disasters."
All of this has been red-flagged in Islamabad, which has now written four times, in quick succession, requesting India to reconsider its decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty.
The four letters were sent by Pakistan's Ministry of Water Resources Secretary Syed Ali Murtaza to India's Jal Shakti Ministry, which forwarded them to the Foreign Ministry, sources said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, however, has made it clear his government will not reconsider this decision, so long as Pakistan continues to support cross-border terrorism.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

In kharif season, water levels at 2 key Pakistan dams near ‘dead levels'
In kharif season, water levels at 2 key Pakistan dams near ‘dead levels'

Time of India

time32 minutes ago

  • Time of India

In kharif season, water levels at 2 key Pakistan dams near ‘dead levels'

NEW DELHI: Constant decrease in the flow volume of western rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab - from India has left Pakistan discharging more water than what it's receiving to sustain its drinking water and irrigation needs. While this appears normal during the pre-monsoon season, the situation may turn grim in the coming weeks as regular desilting and flushing of dams by India in Jammu & Kashmir to increase its own storage capacity will further lessen the water flow to the other side. The daily water situation report, released by Pakistan's Indus River System Authority (IRSA), shows that the country on Wednesday had to discharge 11,180 cusecs more water than the inflow. Its collective outflow, measured at different monitoring stations (Tarbela on Indus, Mangla on Jhelum, Marala on Chenab and Nowshera on Kabul river), stood at 2,52,791 cusecs compared to the inflow of 2,41,611 cusecs. More outflow than inflow will eventually lead to a further drop in water availability in two key provinces - Punjab and Sindh - which depend on waters from the western rivers of the Indus system. On Wednesday, Pakistan's Punjab province, where kharif farming has begun, received 1,14,600 cusecs of water compared to 1,43,600 cusecs on the same day last year - a decline of 20%. Pakistan is still nearly a month away from getting monsoon rains, but water storage in its two key dams - Mangla on river Jhelum and Tarbela on Indus - has already reached close to their respective 'dead levels' (there are no outlets to drain water from the reservoirs by gravity below the level). "This means further decrease in water flow from the Indian side may leave Pakistan with few options to facilitate farming operations before the arrival of the monsoon," said an official. Pakistan's IRSA advisory committee, at its meeting last month, apprehended the crisis when it declared an overall shortage of 21% for the early kharif season (May 1-June 10), noting "sudden decrease" in Chenab's inflows at Marala "due to short supply by India". It expected shortages of 7% in the late kharif season (June 11-Sept 30). Though the situation will start improving from early next month when monsoon hits Pakistan, the authorities would find regulation of water for regular discharge difficult in the absence of water flow data from India following the suspension of Indus Water Treaty. India, which has kept the 1960 treaty in abeyance over the Pahalgam terror attack in April, is not under any obligation to share the data with Pakistan in the present situation.

IMD issues ‘red alert' as severe heatwave grips Capital; Ayanagar hottest at 45 degrees Celsius
IMD issues ‘red alert' as severe heatwave grips Capital; Ayanagar hottest at 45 degrees Celsius

The Hindu

timean hour ago

  • The Hindu

IMD issues ‘red alert' as severe heatwave grips Capital; Ayanagar hottest at 45 degrees Celsius

With Delhi experiencing a severe heatwave, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday issued a 'red alert' in the national capital. During a red alert — the highest-level warning — residents are advised to 'take action', stay hydrated, avoid direct sun exposure, and limit outdoor movement, especially during peak afternoon hours. The daytime temperatures continued to rise with Safdarjung — Delhi's official weather station — recording a high of 43.3 degrees Celsius. The station at Ayanagar registered the highest temperature on Wednesday with a maximum of 45 degrees Celsius. 'No respite till Friday' High temperatures are likely to persist till Friday, after which thunderstorms are expected to bring temporary relief, the IMD said. It added that the temperatures in the city's various weather stations were three to four degrees Celsius above normal. 'By June 14-17, Delhi could see a dip in temperatures from 37-42 degrees Celsius, accompanied by light to moderate rain and gusty winds, potentially easing the ongoing heat stress,' read the IMD bulletin. Meanwhile, Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh on Wednesday inaugurated a water ATM at a government school in Daryaganj, as part of the government's drive to address heat-related challenges. 'Heat-resilient Delhi' 'No one in Delhi should go thirsty, especially in the harsh summer. Our government is committed to building a hydration-secure, heat-resilient Capital. This is just the beginning,' Mr. Singh said, adding that more such facilities will be set up at other schools and public spaces in the city.

'Red Alert' In Delhi As Temperature Hits 51.9 Degrees, Rain Expected After June 13
'Red Alert' In Delhi As Temperature Hits 51.9 Degrees, Rain Expected After June 13

NDTV

timean hour ago

  • NDTV

'Red Alert' In Delhi As Temperature Hits 51.9 Degrees, Rain Expected After June 13

New Delhi: A red alert was issued for Delhi as it remained in the grip of an intense heatwave, with temperatures ranging from 40.9 to 45.0 degrees Celsius across various weather stations on Wednesday. The heat index, a measure of how hot it feels when humidity is factored in, touched an alarming 51.9 degrees Celsius. At 5.30 pm, Ayanagar was the hottest at 45 degrees Celsius, followed by Palam at 44.5 degrees Celsius, Ridge at 43.6 degrees Celsius, Pitampura at 43.5 degrees Celsius, Lodi Road at 43.4 degrees Celsius, Mayur Vihar at 40.9 degrees Celsius and Safdarjung --the city's base station -- reported 43.3 degrees Celsius. On the heat index crossing 50, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said it depends on temperature and relative humidity and varies throughout the day based on changes in these values. Additionally, the heat index is not validated for Indian conditions, and no official records of it are maintained. Heatwave conditions have been observed in Delhi and at isolated places, the IMD said, adding that while three stations reported heatwave conditions yesterday, only one station - Ayanagar - recorded such conditions today. Temperatures are likely to remain in a similar range until today, with a gradual fall expected from June 13. The IMD bulletin said these temperatures were above normal by three to four degrees Celsius, triggering continued heatwave conditions likely to last until June 12. A red alert - the highest-level warning - advises residents to "take action," stay hydrated, avoid direct sun exposure, and limit outdoor movement, especially during peak afternoon hours. "The severe heat is expected to persist till Thursday. A western disturbance is likely to affect northwest India from the night of June 13, which may bring light rain and thunderstorms in Delhi," said Dr Naresh Kumar, senior IMD scientist. Humidity levels in the capital fluctuated between 31 per cent and 73 per cent, with dry northwesterly winds prevailing throughout the day, aggravating heat discomfort. The forecast for Thursday predicts maximum temperatures of 43-45 degrees Celsius, along with gusty winds (40-60 kmph) and a chance of very light to light rain or thunderstorm activity by evening or night. The intensity of the heatwave is expected to reduce from June 13 onward, with an orange alert replacing the red alert. By June 14-17, Delhi could see a dip in temperatures to 37-42 degrees Celsius, accompanied by light to moderate rainfall and gusty winds, potentially easing the ongoing heat stress. Meanwhile, Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded in the "poor" category at 245, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store