ISLAMABAD: Water inflow in river Chenab has decreased up to 30 percent compared to the inflow data of the previous 10 years, in what is being considered water aggression of India against Pakistan.
According to the water inflow data available with the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA), the inflow in Chenab river at the point of Marala Headworks, where it enters into Pakistani territory, was recorded upto 42000 cusecs on Sunday as compared to 63000 cusec in June 2010, showing a decrease of 21000 cusec.
River water has had been an issue between the two nuclear-armed countries with India regularly attempting to dry the rivers falling in Pakistan’s share; Chenab, Sindh and Jhelum. Authorities in Pakistan believe that India is controlling the flow of water in Chenab intentionally and in sheer violation of Indus Water Treaty 1960.
The Indus Waters Treaty was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, with the World Bank taking a mediatory role between the two countries. The treaty allocated the Ravi, Sutlej, and Bias Rivers to India, while Pakistan was assigned the water from the Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus Rivers. India however, violated the Indus Water Treaty by constructing Baglehar Dam in 2007 on river Chenab.
Pakistan further claimed that India exasperated the issue by proceeding to initiate new projects such as the Ratle Dam on the Chenab River and many other projects. The completion of these projects, in addition to the modifications in the allocation of river waters to Pakistan, could deprive the people of the Indus Basin region the basic human right of access to water.
In February 2019, India had vowed to cut back on water flowing through its rivers to Pakistan, a threat it has made before as well. Nitin Gadkari, India’s transport minister, had said in a tweet that “Our Govt. has decided to stop our share of water which used to flow to Pakistan. We will divert water from Eastern Rivers and supply it to our people in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.”
Water blockade by India can be catastrophic to the hundreds of millions of people in Pakistan who depend on river water.
The rivers management body, IRSA has informed the competent forum as Pakistan Commission of Indus Waters (PCIW) about the water aggression of Indian authorities. According to the official documents available with The News Today, IRSA wrote first communiqué CE (O)/IRSA/330/2815-17 on May 6 and second official reminder IRSA/CE(O)/330/3153/55 was sent to the office concerned, PCIW on May 21st, however the PCIW office was yet to respond about this worrying situation.
The scribe couldn’t reach Adhoc manager of PCIW office, Syed Maher Ali shah to get his official comment on the current situation despite repeated attempts.
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