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India.com
4 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
India's Indus Waters Treaty punishment brings Pakistan to its knees, helpless Islamabad begs Modi govt to...
New Delhi: Since the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir in April, India and Pakistan's relations have been going through a very difficult phase. After the Pahalgam attack, India immediately suspended the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) that was signed decades ago with Pakistan. This has left Pakistan agitated, and it has written several letters to India regarding this matter. Following the attack in Pahalgam on April 22, on April 24, Devshree Mukherjee, Secretary of the Ministry of Jal Shakti, sent a letter to Syed Ali Murtaza, Secretary of Pakistan's Water Ministry, making it clear that Pakistan conducts terrorist attacks through cross-border terrorism in India. India also cited technical reasons while informing about the government's decision to annul the Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan has written to India four times so far. In these letters, Pakistan requested India to reconsider its decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty. Murtaza wrote the first letter to change the decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty in the first week of May before Operation Sindoor. After that, the Secretary of Pakistan's Water Ministry wrote three more letters pleading to India to maintain the Indus Waters Treaty. According to sources, the Ministry of Water Power has sent all the letters to the Ministry of External Affairs. After the Pahalgam terrorist attack, PM Modi made it clear to Pakistan that trade and terror, water and blood, bullet and dialogue cannot coexist. India has begun to formulate major plans regarding the Indus river water. This includes a 130-kilometer canal that will connect water from the Beas River to the Ganga canal, and a proposal to construct a canal to connect the Yamuna as well. The IWT was a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan, arranged and negotiated by the World Bank, to use the water available in the Indus River and its tributaries. It was signed in Karachi on 19 September 1960. The Treaty gives India control over the waters of the three Eastern Rivers, the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej, which have a total mean annual flow of 41 billion cubic metres. Control over the three Western Rivers, the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum, which have a total mean annual flow of 99 billion cubic metres, was given to Pakistan.
India Gazette
19-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Providing water to Pakistan is unjust to Indian farmers: Shivraj Singh Chouhan hails decision to suspend Indus Water Treaty
New Delhi [India], May 19 (ANI): Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday hailed the Indian Armed Forces for Operation Sindoor's success and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for suspending the Indus Water Treaty, stating that it was an injustice to Indian farmers. The minister said that the abeyance of the Indus Water Treaty will greatly benefit the farmers of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, and some parts of Himachal Pradesh. Chouhan interacted with various farmer groups from across the country today and took their suggestions on the treaty. Earlier today he addressed a key Government Farmers Meeting on the Indus Water Treaty in Abeyance. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the event, Union Minister Chouhan said, 'I thank the PM for suspending the Indus Water Treaty and ending the historical injustice. This treaty was signed in 1960 by Jawaharlal Nehru. More than 80 per cent of the Indus water was given to Pakistan. We gave them money and water. What did Pakistan give us in return? Providing water to Pakistan is unjust to Indian farmers. 'Now, the water of the Indus will benefit the farmers of different states of our country. We will work in that direction. Water and blood cannot flow together. Terror and cricket cannot go together. The nation's resolve is to uproot terrorism,' the minister said. Addressing the gathering, Chouhan said, 'PM gave a free hand to the armed forces. The armed forces decided that this is India, we will not kill everyone. So, terrorists and their camps were targeted. All terror sites were destroyed. We didn't attack Pakistan directly; our fight was against terrorists, but Pakistan didn't accept this. It was started by Pakistan. They thought that would scare India with drones and missiles of Turkiye and China. We are proud of our armed forces, I bow before the valour. He said that the Indian armed forces took down Pakistan's drones and missiles like toys. 'Children in Punjab and other states are playing with their debris. Pakistan bent its knees within three days. But decisive decisions were made. PM decided that blood and water can't flow together. A historic decision was made, the Indus Water Treaty was suspended. This is not ordinary,' he further said. Despite reaching an agreement of cessation of hostilities, the Indian government maintains its stance on the Indus Water Treaty which is still in abeyance. The treaty was suspended following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. The Indus system comprises of main Indus River, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The basin is mainly shared by India and Pakistan with a small share for China and Afghanistan. Under the Indus Waters Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of three rivers, namely Ravi, Sutlej and Beas ( Eastern Rivers) averaging around 33 million acre feet ( MAF) were allocated to India for exclusive use. The waters of Western rivers - Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab averaging to around 135 MAF were allocated to Pakistan except for specified domestic, non-consumptive and agricultural use permitted to India as provided in the Treaty. India has also been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run of the river(RoR) projects on the Western Rivers which, subject to specific criteria for design and operation is unrestricted. To utilize the waters of the Eastern rivers which have been allocated to India for exclusive use, India has constructed Bhakra Dam on Satluj, Pong and Pandoh Dam on Beas and Thein (Ranjitsagar) on Ravi. These storage works, together with other works like Beas-Sutlej Link, Madhopur-Beas Link, Indira Gandhi Nahar Project etc has helped India utilize most of the waters of waters of Eastern rivers. (ANI)
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Indus pact on hold, Govt plans monthly flushing of Salal and Baglihar dams
WITH the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance and the government having already carried out the first flushing exercise at Baglihar and Salal — its two run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir — the Central Water Commission (CWC) has now recommended that such flushing become a monthly routine, The Indian Express has learned. As first reported by The Indian Express on May 4, NHPC and the Jammu & Kashmir administration have begun flushing the Salal and Baglihar reservoirs to clear out sediment that hinders power output. This is the first such exercise since Salal was built in 1987 and Baglihar in 2008-09, after Pakistan's repeated objections under the IWT had previously blocked these works. Sources said the flushing that began in early May removed just over 7.5 million cubic metres (MCM) of sediment from the 690 MW Salal and 900 MW Baglihar reservoirs. 'The CWC has now recommended that forced flushing be carried out monthly for both projects, and an SOP (standard operating procedure) will be issued shortly,' a senior official said. Flushing involves releasing stored water to remove sediment build-up — sand, silt and clay — that settles in reservoirs over time. Sediment reduces reservoir capacity and hampers hydropower output. By regularly flushing these particles out, operators restore storage space and improve turbine efficiency, ensuring reliable power generation and prolonging the life of hydroelectric plants. However, Pakistan has routinely objected to this exercise given that flushing, the release of stored water to remove sediment, can temporarily boost downstream flow. And recharge, the reservoir's replenishment by closing of gates, can reduce the volume available for later release. Making flushing a monthly exercise is part of the government's short-term plan to utilise Indus waters after the treaty was placed in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack. As a further short-term measure, India will neither share hydrological data with Pakistan nor inform it of these flushing operations. For the medium and long term, India plans to fast-track hydroelectric projects stalled by Pakistan's objections under the treaty, consider diverting some Indus flows, and explore building new projects, a senior official said. 'For any new project under the treaty, India had to inform Pakistan six months in advance. We are under no such obligation now,' the official added. Among the hydroelectric projects the government will expedite are Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Kiru (624 MW), Kwar (540 MW) and Ratle (850 MW), all on the Chenab River. The Indus Waters Treaty was signed on September 19, 1960, after nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan. It has 12 Articles and eight Annexures (A to H). Under its provisions, all the water of the 'Eastern Rivers'—Sutlej, Beas and Ravi—shall be available for the 'unrestricted use' of India; Pakistan shall receive water from the 'Western Rivers'—Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. India paused this treaty 'until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.' It formally informed Pakistan of this decision by letter dated April 24; Pakistan recently replied signalling its willingness to discuss Delhi's concerns and suggested a date in May for that discussion. This offer is especially significant because, despite two prior notices—in January 2023 and again in September 2024—requesting a 'review and modification' of the IWT, Pakistan had not previously expressed explicit willingness. It was only after India placed the treaty in abeyance with immediate effect following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that Pakistan signalled its readiness. Ritika Chopra, an award-winning journalist with over 17 years of experience, serves as the Chief of the National Bureau (Govt) and National Education Editor at The Indian Express in New Delhi. In her current role, she oversees the newspaper's coverage of government policies and education. Ritika closely tracks the Union Government, focusing on the politically sensitive Election Commission of India and the Education Ministry, and has authored investigative stories that have prompted government responses. Ritika joined The Indian Express in 2015. Previously, she was part of the political bureau at The Economic Times, India's largest financial daily. Her journalism career began in Kolkata, her birthplace, with the Hindustan Times in 2006 as an intern, before moving to Delhi in 2007. Since then, she has been reporting from the capital on politics, education, social sectors, and the Election Commission of India. ... Read More
India Gazette
13-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Gates of Baglihar Power Project Dam in J-K closed
Ramban (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 13 (ANI): All gates of the Baglihar Hydroelectric power project Dam built on the Chenab river in Ramban have been closed, officials said on Tuesday. Earlier on May 8, two gates of the Baglihar dam were opened. Water was released from the dam due to heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir, which could cause flooding. India has kept the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. India took a slew of measures, including the decision concerning Indus Waters Treaty, to send a strong message to Pakistan for its support to cross-border terrorism following the Pahalgam terror attack. The Indus system comprises of main Indus River, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej. The basin is mainly shared by India and Pakistan with a small share for China and Afghanistan. Under the Indus Waters Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of three rivers, namely Ravi,Sutlej and Beas ( Eastern Rivers) averaging around 33 million acre feet ( MAF) were allocated to India for exclusive waters of Western rivers - Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab averaging to around 135 MAF were allocated to Pakistan except for specified domestic , non-consumptive and agricultural use permitted to India as provided in the Treaty. India has also been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run of the river(RoR) projects on the Western Rivers which, subject to specific criteria for design and operation is unrestricted. To utilize the waters of the Eastern rivers which have been allocated to India for exclusive use, India has constructed Bhakra Dam on Satluj, Pong and Pandoh Dam on Beas and Thein (Ranjitsagar) on Ravi. These storage works, together with other works like Beas-Sutlej Link, Madhopur-Beas Link, Indira Gandhi Nahar Project etc has helped India utilize most of the waters of waters of Eastern rivers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier this month made a veiled reference to the Indus Waters Treaty and noted that India's rightful share of water was flowing beyond its borders. 'India's water will remain within the nation, serving its rightful purpose for the country's development,' he said. PM Modi also referred to the Indus Waters Treaty in his adress to the nation yesterday on Operation Sindoor in which Indian Armed Forces targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Indian Armed Forces also repelled the subsequent Pakistan aggression. Prime Minister said that the way the Pakistani army, Pakistan government are encouraging terrorism, it will destroy Pakistan one day. 'If Pakistan wants to survive, it will have to destroy its terror infrastructure. There is no other way to peace. India's stand is very clear... Terror and talks cannot go together... Terror and trade cannot go together.... Water and blood cannot flow together,' PM Modi said. 'Our greatest strength is our unity against all forms of terrorism. This is certainly not the era of war but this is also not the era of terrorism. Zero tolerance against terrorism is the guarantee for a better world,' he added. (ANI)
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Union Jal Shakti Minister Paatil to meet ministry officials today, after suspension of Indus Treaty
Live Events Union Minister of Jal Shakti, CR Paatil , is scheduled to hold a meeting with ministry officials on Thursday following the Union Government's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam, sources told on Wednesday, in retaliation against the terror attack, which claimed 26 innocent lives, India announced a series of strong measures in response, including the abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 "with immediate effect, until Pakistan credibly and irreversibly abjures its support for cross-border terrorism ."The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960, following nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan, with the assistance of the World Bank , which is also the signatory. Eugene Black, a former president of the World Bank, initiated the as one of the most successful international treaties, it has endured frequent tensions, including conflict, and has provided a framework for irrigation and hydropower development for over 50 Treaty allocates the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan and the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India. At the same time, the Treaty allows each country specific uses of the rivers allocated to the other. The treaty allocates 20 per cent of the water from the Indus River System to India, with the remaining 80 per cent allocated to to the World Bank, the Treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding their use of the rivers, known as the Permanent Indus Commission , which has a Commissioner from each country. The Treaty also sets forth distinct procedures to handle issues which may arise: "questions" are managed by the Commission; "differences" are to be resolved by a Neutral Expert; and "disputes" are to be referred to an ad hoc arbitral tribunal called the "Court of Arbitration".The Indus Waters Treaty also came under scrutiny in the aftermath of the Pulwama attack in 2019. The treaty has been criticised for being too generous to Pakistan, even when it has continued to promote terror in India.
