Indus Waters Treaty

The Indus Waters Treaty is a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank (then the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development).

Why Indus Waters Treaty was signed?

The redrawing of boundaries between India and Pakistan at the time of independence was done across the Indus river basin.

A dispute between two countries regarding the utilization of irrigation water from existing facilities (at the time of independence) has led to signing of world bank brokered Indus water treaty.

Major Provisions of Indus Waters Treaty 1960

The Indus system of rivers comprises three Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej and their tributaries) and three Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab and their tributaries).
Under the Treaty, the waters of Eastern Rivers are allocated to India. India is under obligation to let flow the waters of the Western Rivers except for uses such as Domestic Use, Non-consumptive use, Agricultural use as specified, Generation of hydro-electric power as specified
India has been permitted to construct storage of water on Western Rivers up to 3.6 MAF for various purposes. No storage has been developed so far.
Under the Treaty, India and Pakistan have each created a permanent post of Commissioner for Indus Waters. They together constitute the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC), which is entrusted with the implementation of the Treaty.
India is under obligation to supply information of its storage and hydroelectric projects as specified

The success of Indus waters treaty

The Permanent Indus Commission mandated to implement the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) has met like clockwork, 112 times in 56 years, annually in each country.
The treaty is seen as a model to dispute management

Recent issues surrounding Indus waters treaty

The low points in India Pakistan relations following Uri attacks, surgical strikes and LoC firings had cast a shadow on Indus Water treaty. However India is participating in the meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) that is being held in Lahore.
Pakistan had objected to two major hydroelectric power projects being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir. The dispute is over the Kishenganga (330 MW) and Ratle (850 MW) hydel plants India is constructing on the Kishenganga and Chenab rivers. Earlier India argued that world bank was favouring Pakistan in the dispute. Last year, the secretaries of power of both countries agreed to third-party resolution through the World Bank. But the World Bank announced late last year that Pakistan and India should hold bilateral talks. Kishenganga and Ratle were not discussed in the latest round of Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) talks .