1. Present Situations:
In a stern message to Pakistan New Delhi has
decided to stop the flow of its share of water to Pakistan from rivers under
the Indus Waters Treaty. The announcement was made on 21 February by Union
minister Nitin Gadkari after the attack generated series of strong reactions
across the country. Similar demands or to say sentiments to stop the flow of
India's share of Indus water to Pakistan were echoed after the Uri terror
attack in 2016.
Now,
after announcing the stopping of water to flow its share to Pakistan the
government has also reiterated that water would be diverted from eastern rivers
to Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
2. Past meeting:
(a)
The two-day high-level talks on technical issues of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)
began between India and Pakistan in Washington, United States on 14 Sep 2017.
(b)
According to a spokesperson from the World Bank, the meetings between two
countries took place between 14 and 15 Sep.
(c)
The talks are a continuation of a discussion on how to safeguard the treaty for
the benefit of the people in both the countries.
2. Key Highlights.
(a)
The World Bank had said in Aug 2017 that under the water treaty, India is permitted
to construct hydroelectric power facilities on tributaries of the Jhelum and Chenab
rivers with certain restrictions.
(b)
Secretary-level talks between the two countries on the treaty had taken place in
August 2017.
(c)
In a fact sheet issued at the conclusion of the talks, Pakistan opposed the construction
of the Kishanganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts) hydroelectric
power plants being built by India.
3. About Indus Water Treaty.
(a)
The Indus Water Treaty was signed in Karachi on 19 Sep 1960 by Prime Minister of
India Jawaharlal Nehru and President of Pakistan Ayub Khan.
(b)
The treaty was signed after 09 years of negotiations with the help of the World
Bank, which was also a signatory.
(c)
According to the agreement, control over the three "eastern" rivers -
Beas, Ravi and Sutlej -was given to India, while control over the three
"western" rivers - Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - to Pakistan.
(d)
However, since Pakistan's rivers flow through India first, the treaty allowed India
to use them for irrigation, transport and power generation, while laying down precise
regulations for Indian building projects along the way.
(e)
It raised a fear in Pakistan that since the source of the rivers is in India,
it could potentially lead to droughts and famines in Pakistan, especially at
times of war.
(f)
However, the provisions of the treaty only allow India to use 20 percent of the
total water carried by the Indus River.
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