Indus and its five tributaries namely Chenab, Jhelum, Beas, Raavi and Sutlej comprise the much needed and important drainage system for both India and Pakistan. These six rivers although originate from different places and travel through different routes provide the much-needed relief for the northern part of India and also to Pakistan.
After partition in 1947, the newly born country needed water for its survival and at that time both the countries signed an Inter-dominion accord; according to the accord, the Indian govt will release sufficient amount of water to the neighboring country and in return will get money. But, as time passed by, the tensions and disagreements between the two countries started to increase and the new treaty with World bank being the mediator gets ratified in 1960.
According to this treaty, the water flowing through eastern rivers namely; Beas, Raavi and Sutlej, are completely within India's range and can be used for any purpose India wants to utilize it for. The three western rivers namely; Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum; the water flowing through these rivers released to Pakistan(although 20% India can use).
Whenever there comes to tension and warlike situation the demand to use 20% water from Western rivers and build dams or divert the flow to J&K gets generated. Also, with global warming and climate change the demand to revisit the treaty was of popular opinion. But after the dastardly attacks recently in Pulwama, this treaty is under the scrutiny and govt of India might come out of it only to create pressure on the neighboring country to take action on the culprits.
Although, Indus water treaty is one of the peace treaties the world have witnessed but with growing hostility between the two countries and the huge pressure mounted on the government of India to create some kind of pressure on Pakistan to react and take action on the terror-related activities,they can eventually think of terminating this treaty as World bank has its say in this treaty so it will not be an easy task to do so.
They might not be able to come out of this treaty but certainly can put pressure through it. But, going forward both the countries need to revisit this treaty with the challenges of water pollution and to prevent the rivers from plastic materials are the most important ones.
Whenever there comes to tension and warlike situation the demand to use 20% water from Western rivers and build dams or divert the flow to J&K gets generated. Also, with global warming and climate change the demand to revisit the treaty was of popular opinion. But after the dastardly attacks recently in Pulwama, this treaty is under the scrutiny and govt of India might come out of it only to create pressure on the neighboring country to take action on the culprits.
Although, Indus water treaty is one of the peace treaties the world have witnessed but with growing hostility between the two countries and the huge pressure mounted on the government of India to create some kind of pressure on Pakistan to react and take action on the terror-related activities,they can eventually think of terminating this treaty as World bank has its say in this treaty so it will not be an easy task to do so.
They might not be able to come out of this treaty but certainly can put pressure through it. But, going forward both the countries need to revisit this treaty with the challenges of water pollution and to prevent the rivers from plastic materials are the most important ones.
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