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Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
With the treaty suspended, we should use Indus waters for India
Written by Naresh Kumar and P K G Mishra If someone says Delhi receives water from rivers governed by the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), many would likely disagree. Yet, this is a fact. Delhi's connection to the IWT isn't just as the capital of a signatory country — it is also a direct beneficiary, drawing nearly 30 per cent of its surface water from rivers covered under this treaty. Operation Sindoor put focus on one of Bharat's most underutilised strategic levers — the ability to restrict the flow of water to Pakistan under the IWT. Bharat has historically refrained from using this leverage. This time, however, Bharat has acted decisively by suspending the treaty. According to recent reports, Pakistan has officially urged Bharat to reconsider and reinstate the status quo. Looking ahead, Bharat might revive the treaty as part of a broader peace agreement — perhaps if Pakistan agrees to curb support for cross-border terrorism. But this raises critical questions: Would restoring the treaty mean surrendering our leverage? Or can we explore new ways to use the treaty to address domestic challenges — like Delhi's water scarcity? The IWT governs six rivers flowing from Bharat to Pakistan, divided into two categories: The western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), from which Pakistan receives 82 per cent of their water, and the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej), over which Bharat retains full rights. Even if the treaty's suspension is reversed, Bharat retains full legal control over the eastern rivers, allowing continued action to prevent their waters from entering Pakistan. This untapped potential could be redirected to meet growing domestic demand — including in Delhi. Before the IWT was signed, a 1955 internal agreement between Punjab, the Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU), Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir allocated 19.55 billion cubic metres (BCM) of water from the eastern rivers among the three — 7.3 BCM to Punjab, 1.6 BCM to PEPSU and 9.9 BCM to Rajasthan and 0.8 BCM to J&K. After PEPSU merged with Punjab in 1956, their shares were consolidated, giving Punjab 8.9 BCM. When Haryana was carved out of Punjab in 1966, it demanded 5.5 BCM from Punjab's share. Punjab objected, and the deadlock persisted until 1976, when the central government stepped in, reallocating the water as follows: 4.3 BCM each to Punjab and Haryana, and 0.3 BCM to Delhi, added as a new beneficiary. Rajasthan's share remained unchanged. Delhi used its allocation to launch phase one of the Haiderpur Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in 1977, with a capacity of 100 million gallons per day (MGD). However, the redistribution also gave rise to the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal dispute between Punjab and Haryana, which remains unresolved. Delhi's water supply today includes 496 cusecs (approximately 260 MGD) from the eastern rivers (via Nangal), 875 MGD total surface water (including from the Ganga and the Yamuna), as well as 125 MGD from groundwater. Its water treatment capacity is 826 MGD, which is expected to increase to 876 MGD by the end of the year with the commissioning of Dwarka WTP phase two (50 MGD). Despite this, Delhi faces a shortfall: Its demand stands at 1,250 MGD, far exceeding current supply. The Upper Yamuna Board Agreement, signed in 1994, guarantees 1,050 cusecs to Delhi from the Munak regulator in Haryana, supported by Supreme Court directives. However, the agreement is due for review this year, and any increase in Delhi's share is unlikely unless three long-delayed dams — Renuka, Kishau, and Lakhwar — are completed. For now, these projects remain aspirational. Delhi also receives 240 MGD from the Ganga via Muradnagar, but increasing this allocation seems difficult, as upper riparian states may resist further sharing. This brings us back to the eastern rivers of the Indus Water Treaty. Hydrographic data show that Bharat lacks sufficient infrastructure to utilise the full flow within its territory. As a result, surplus water from the Beas and Sutlej flows into Pakistan via the Hussainiwala Barrage, and water from the Ravi escapes from the Madhopur Headworks, also into Pakistan. If this water can be captured and diverted to downstream states, it could help resolve not just Delhi's crisis, but also longstanding interstate water disputes. Though a bold proposition, it is technically feasible and deserves serious exploration by domain experts. Consider this: The SYL canal dispute revolves around 5.9 BCM of water — nearly equal to the volume of Ravi water that currently flows into Pakistan from the Madhopur Headworks, located in Punjab itself. Now that Bharat has acted to suspend the IWT, we should not squander this opportunity. The treaty must serve not just as a diplomatic tool, but also as a domestic resource strategy. Northern states and Delhi are in urgent need of water. If water is a strategic asset, the question is clear: Why let it flow to the adversary, when it can help our own people? (Kumar is former chief secretary, Delhi, and Mishra is a retired Army officer who writes on water issues, including the IWT)
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
No surplus water for other states, BBMB has biased approach: Punjab CM Mann at Niti Aayog meeting
CHANDIGARH: Taking part in the meeting of the 10th Governing Council of the Niti Aayog on Saturday, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reiterated that Punjab has no surplus water for other states. Mann said that in the wake of the grim water situation in the state, the Yamuna-Sutlej Link (YSL) canal should be considered for construction instead of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal. He said the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers are already in deficit and water should be diverted from surplus to deficit basins. He said Punjab has repeatedly requested to be included in negotiations for the allocation of Yamuna waters as a pact for the Yamuna-Sutlej Link project was signed between the erstwhile Punjab and Uttar Pradesh on March 12, 1954 which entitled the erstwhile Punjab to two-thirds of the Yamuna waters. Mann said this agreement did not specify any particular area to be irrigated by Yamuna waters, adding that before the re-organization, the Yamuna river, like the Ravi and Beas, flowed through the erstwhile state of Punjab. However, he bemoaned that while apportioning the river waters between Punjab and Haryana, the Yamuna waters were not considered, whereas the waters of Ravi and Beas were duly taken into account. Citing a 1972 report by the Irrigation Commission, constituted by the Centre, Mann said it states that Punjab (post-1966, after its reorganization) falls within the Yamuna River Basin. Hence, if Haryana has a claim over the waters of the Ravi and Beas rivers, Punjab should also have an equal claim on the Yamuna waters, he insisted. Mann said these requests have been ignored, adding that due to non-construction of storage structures on the Yamuna river, the water is being wasted. He urged that Punjab's claim should be considered during the revision of this agreement, and the state should be given its due rights to Yamuna waters. Alleging that the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has a biased approach, he said it was constituted under the provisions of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966, with the mandate to regulate the supply of water and power from the Bhakra, Nangal and Beas projects to the partner states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Chandigarh. He said that in the past, Punjab had been very liberal in sharing water with the partner states to meet their drinking water and other genuine requirements. Punjab was relying upon its groundwater reserves to meet its demand of water, particularly for the paddy crop.
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
INLD to stop Punjab vehicles on May 25 amid water row
Deciding to step up pressure on Punjab over the Bhakra water dispute, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) on Tuesday announced a blockade of the Punjab-Haryana border on May 25, warning that all vehicles bearing Punjab number plates would be stopped. The party threatened to escalate the protest by setting up permanent protest camps (morchas) along the border if Punjab fails to release the full quota of water to Haryana by June 1. Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the party's national and state executive bodies in Chandigarh, INLD national president Abhay Singh Chautala accused the Punjab government of releasing only 5,000 cusecs of water instead of the agreed 9,000 cusecs from the Bhakra system. He said the shortfall had led to a severe water crisis in Haryana, affecting not just irrigation but also drinking water for people and livestock. 'We will not accept even one cusec less than 9,000 cusec. If Punjab does not comply, we will begin permanent sit-in protests from June 1,' Chautala declared. 'On May 25, we will enforce a symbolic blockade of Punjab-Haryana border routes, and all vehicles with Punjab number plates will be stopped.' The party plans to seal the borders in different regions. In the Ambala zone, INLD state president Rampal Majra will lead the blockade at two Punjab border points. At Sirsa, the protest will be led by Aditya Devilal, while Abhay Chautala himself will lead the agitation at the Narwana border with support from the Gurugram zone and Jind district units. Chautala also extended an invitation to the Congress to join the agitation, saying, 'If the Congress is truly serious about the water issue, it should stand with us in this struggle.' The party also passed a resolution to revive its agitation for the construction of the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal, a long-pending inter-state water dispute between Punjab and Haryana. In protest against Punjab's refusal to release Bhakra waters, a 15-member delegation of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), led by its national president Abhay Singh Chautala, met Haryana governor Bandaru Dattatraya on Wednesday morning and submitted a memorandum.
India Gazette
08-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"If he is doing politics on this, then it is unfortunate,"Haryana CM slams Bhagwant Mann for water dispute
Panchkula (Haryana) [India], May 8 (ANI): Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini criticised Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for politicising the Punjab-Haryana water dispute, emphasising that the issue pertains to drinking water and should not be used for political gains. 'There are many other topics related to politics. If Bhagwant Mann wants to do politics, then he should do so on those other topics. This is a question of drinking water... If he is doing politics on this, then it is unfortunate ...,' he said. Saini further urged Mann to respect the High Court's decision, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of disregarding constitutional institutions by sidelining the court's ruling. 'The decision of HC will be accepted and respected, but this decision, reflect that AAP does not believe and neither respect the constitution, does not believe in constitutional institutions, they have side cornered the decision of HC, I want to request Bhagwant Mann to respect the decision of HC,' he said. On Tuesday, following the Punjab and Haryana High Court's hearing over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal dispute, Additional Solicitor General of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Satya Pal Jain, said that Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) decision should be implemented. 'BBMB is an institution that controls the flow of water. It decides the share of the believe that BBMB's decision should be implemented. There is no point in deploying police there. The Punjab government should remove the deployment of police and let the BBMB do its work,' Satya Pal Jain told ANI. Earlier today, Punjab CM held press conference in which he said that, 'Today, the BBMB chairman, adopting an irresponsible attitude, bypassed Punjab and reached Nangal Dam to give water to Haryana. But due to the protest by the revolutionary people of Punjab, he had to return. We will protect every drop of Punjab's water.' Punjab CM announced that Punjab is providing 4,000 cusecs of water to Haryana on humanitarian grounds. He criticized the BJP for holding 'unconstitutional' BBMB meetings and accused them of making anti-Punjab decisions to 'rob' Punjab's water. 'We are giving 4000 cusecs of water to Haryana on a humanitarian basis. But instead of giving thanks, decisions are being taken by unconstitutionally holding BBMB meetings. We will not tolerate coercion of any kind. On one side, there is an atmosphere of war in the country, on the other side BJP is trying to rob the waters of Punjab by taking anti-Punjab decisions. We also know how to protect borders and also know how to protect our water,' he said. (ANI)
NDTV
06-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
High Court's "Enemy Country" Reference To Slam Punjab-Haryana Water Dispute
New Delhi: The raging water dispute between Punjab and Haryana has irked the High Court, which pointed out today that while India has decided to take measures against Pakistan, states within the country "should not be doing the same against each other". "We are doing this to our enemy country. Let us not do this within our States," said Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, who was part of the two-judge bench with Justice Sumeet Goel. Punjab has refused to release water to Haryana, passing a resolution in the state assembly that vows not to spare even a single drop of water from its share. The state subsequently has taken over of the Nangal dam, accusing the BJP government of Haryana of trying to cut off its water supply after a decision was taken to release additional water to Haryana. Punjab has now deployed additional police personnel at the dam. The Punjab and Haryana High Court took exception to the dispute today, while hearing a petition by the Bhakra Beas Management Board or BBMB. The BBMB has sought intervention against the alleged takeover of the Nangal dam by Punjab. "The reservoir is going to overflow and the downstream states are going to go dry," said senior advocate Rajesh Garg representing the BBMB. The row over water sharing started after AAP-ruled Punjab refused to release more water to BJP-ruled Haryana, claiming the latter has "already used 103 per cent of its allocated share of water by March". The Supreme Court today directed the Punjab and Haryana governments to cooperate with the Centre and resolve the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal row. A bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih said, "We direct both states to cooperate with the Union of India in arriving at an amicable solution".
