Indus Waters Treaty: What are the options before Modi government?
Without reneging on New Delhi's original commitment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi can do quite a bit to up the ante and use water as a bargaining chip against Pakistan. There are options that are both feasible and not violative of the Indus Waters Treaty that can be worked on.
We list out some of them.
Maximum utilisation of waters
India currently underutilises waters of Jhelum, Chenab and Indus, the "western rivers" under the bipartite water sharing system, even though it's entitled to some amount.
Small, run of river dams can be built on Jhelum, Chenab and Indus without blocking the flow of these rivers, and can even help fulfil electricity and irrigation requirements of the power-starved state that is Jammu and Kashmir.
Irrigation
Indus Waters Treaty allows India to develop 1.34 million acres for irrigation in Jammu and Kashmir, whereas only 6,42,477 acres of land has been irrigated in the state. This leaves scope for massive expansion, almost doubling the irrigated land, under the treaty.
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| Indus Waters Treaty allows India to develop 1.34 million acres for irrigation in Jammu and Kashmir. [Photo: PTI] |
Water storage
India is allowed to store 3.60 million acre feet (MAF) of the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab) under the treaty, but so far practically no capacity to reserve water has been developed in the state.
Even the eastern rivers - Sutlej, Beas and Ravi - to whose waters India is entirely entitled to, can be better harnessed, since water utilisation for specific purposes needs more focus.
Interlinking of rivers
Indira Gandhi canal in Rajasthan is yet to be completed on account of dispute between Haryana and Punjab over Sutlej-Yamuna link.
India forced to release 3 million-acre-feet of Sutlej and Ravi waters to Pakistan because of the incomplete canal. If PM Modi can get Haryana and Punjab to resolve their water dispute so that Sutlej water doesn't unnecessarily flow into Pakistan, it will be a big win for India.