Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance may hurt Pakistan's food security | Current Affairs | Vision IAS

Daily News Summary

Get concise and efficient summaries of key articles from prominent newspapers. Our daily news digest ensures quick reading and easy understanding, helping you stay informed about important events and developments without spending hours going through full articles. Perfect for focused and timely updates.

News Summary

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance may hurt Pakistan's food security

2 min read

Indus Waters Treaty in Abeyance

The Ministry of External Affairs of India is considering the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty in response to a recent incident involving tourists in Pahalgam. This decision could have significant implications for Pakistan's agriculture, food security, and energy supplies.

Implications of Treaty Suspension

  • India aims to build its infrastructure on the Indus Water Basin rivers without adhering to treaty obligations, potentially reducing water flow to Pakistan.
  • Immediate cessation of water supplies is unlikely due to the lack of large-scale water reservoirs on the Indian side.
  • Significant impact may occur once reservoirs are constructed, allowing India to control water flow.
  • Pakistan may face water shortages during low-flow months, especially once infrastructure developments are complete.

Current Water Levels and Reservoir Status

  • As of April 23, water levels in two major reservoirs are just above dead levels, indicating potential electricity generation issues.
  • Post-monsoon rains were insufficient, leading to reliance on snowmelt for river flow.

Information Sharing and Impact on Pakistan

  • Suspending the treaty means India might stop sharing river flow information with Pakistan, creating an information blackout.

Indus Waters Treaty Overview

  • Signed in 1960, brokered by the World Bank, the treaty is a durable water-sharing agreement between India and Pakistan.
  • India controls the eastern rivers: Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
  • Pakistan controls the western rivers: Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, which constitute 80% of the shared basin’s water.
  • India is allowed to use water from the western rivers for hydropower and irrigation but cannot divert or impact downstream flow.

Significance for Pakistan

  • The three western rivers are crucial for Pakistan’s agriculture, supporting cotton, paddy, and horticulture production.
  • Suspension of the treaty gives India leverage to build projects affecting the rivers' downstream flow to Pakistan.
  • Tags :
  • World Bank
  • Indus Waters Treaty in Abeyance
Subscribe for Premium Features