New Delhi — In an important strategic change, India has devised a three-step strategy in order to slowly reduce the flow of water from the Indus River to Pakistan the officials announced on Wednesday. This decision marks a significant change in India’s strategy for controlling its share of Indus waters as stipulated in the 1961 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
What Does the Three-Step Plan Involve?
According to sources from the government, the three steps that are essential include:
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The completion of existing dams as well as irrigation schemes to make the most use of India’s part.
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Accelerating New infrastructure developments on the rivers that are allocated to India -including the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej.
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Revisiting protocols for water sharing via diplomatic channels, and observing the legal structure in the IWT.
The objective is to make use of India’s full rights in the waters of its east rivers without infringing upon the international treaty. However, it is restricting the flow of water that is not needed to Pakistan.
Why Now?
Conflicts among India between India and Pakistan have been on the rise in recent years particularly following terror-related incidents. India’s decisions on water management are considered to be part of a wider strategy to establish power in the world, both economically and geopolitically..
Officials claim they believe that India is historically under-utilized its water resources under the IWT which has allowed millions of acre-feet of water to be in unclaimed Pakistan.
A Quick Recap: Indus Waters Treaty
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The agreement was signed in 1960 in 1960 between India as well as Pakistan and the World Bank as a guarantor.
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Divides six rivers into two: The Eastern river (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India and the the western the rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) mostly for Pakistan.
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India holds only a limited right over western rivers for non-consumptive uses (e.g. hydroelectricity and agriculture).
For a comprehensive review of the treaties and India’s water resources strategies go to artkerala.com.
Expert Views
Experts on water resources say experts from the field say that Indus plan is legal and needed particularly as the pressures of climate change increase. However they warn of potential diplomatic friction when India’s water-related projects are viewed as threatening by Islamabad.
“Water has emerged as the new frontier of strategic control,” an former Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official said.
What Lies Ahead?
While India insists that it is acting in accordance with its convention rights, Pakistan has raised concerns globally in the past, accusing India of using water resources to weaponize its own. The next few months will test the maturity of diplomatic relations as well as the stability of the region across South Asia.