The central government has decided to start a big public awareness campaign to explain how stopping the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan will help people in India, especially in northern states where water needs are high. Senior Union ministers will talk directly to the public to share this information. This move comes after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. Stopping the treaty is one of the steps India has taken against Pakistan in response.

The government is planning to use the Indus river water more effectively for India. They plan to build a 160-kilometre canal to connect the Chenab river with the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers. They also plan to make a 13-kilometre tunnel to link the Indus with other rivers and canals. This will help move water from Jammu and Kashmir to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

The government hopes to supply Indus river water to Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district within three years. For this, 13 existing canal systems across Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan will be connected.

According to the government, this will increase water supply for irrigation, drinking, and power generation, and help avoid water shortages in the future. Ministers will visit all areas that will get more water to assure people that the government’s decision will benefit them.

About Indus Waters Treaty

The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 with Pakistan and supported by the World Bank, divides river water between the two countries. India controls the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej), while Pakistan controls the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), but there are rules that allow some shared use.

During British rule in India, many large canal systems were built, and old ones were improved. But in 1947, when India was divided into India and Pakistan, the water system was also split. The river headworks (main control points) stayed in India, while many canals flowed into Pakistan.

After a temporary agreement ended in 1948, India stopped water supply to canals going into Pakistan. Later that year, the Inter-Dominion Accord was signed, which required India to keep supplying water to Pakistan in return for yearly payments. This was only a temporary solution while both countries discussed a permanent deal.

Talks did not move forward, as neither side wanted to compromise. In 1951, David Lilienthal, a former US official, visited the area and suggested that India and Pakistan should work together to manage the Indus River system, possibly with help from the World Bank.

The World Bank president, Eugene Black, supported this idea. Engineers from both countries, along with World Bank experts, formed a group to find a solution. However, political issues stalled progress.

In 1954, the World Bank proposed a plan. After six years of discussions, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani President Mohammad Ayub Khan finally signed the Indus Waters Treaty in September 1960.Under this treaty:

  • Pakistan got the waters of the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab).

  • India got the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej).

  • New dams, canals, and other water projects were built (like the Tarbela Dam on the Indus and Mangla Dam on the Jhelum) to make sure Pakistan still got enough water.

The World Bank and its member countries helped fund these projects. A Permanent Indus Commission was created, with officials from both countries, to keep communication open and resolve issues. There were also systems to solve disputes, such as a neutral expert for technical problems and a court of arbitration for bigger issues.