The Indus Water Treaty
The Indus water treaty is one of the most enduring and successful examples of international river water sharing. Signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan with the World Bank's mediation, the Indus Waters Treaty resolved long standing concerns over the Indus river system and remains a pillar in India-Pakistan Water Dispute History.
Background of the Indus Waters Treaty
The Indus Waters Treaty was necessitated after the 1947 partition, which divided British India into India and Pakistan. The Indus River System, which flows across both countries became a critical issue due to Pakistan's dependency and India's geographic advantage. The Indus Waters Treaty brought peace and clarity to the shared water system with formal allocation and usage rights.
Rivers Covered Under the Indus Water Treaty
The Indus Waters Treaty divides the six rivers of the Indus River System into two groups: the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) were given to India, and the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan. This division in the Indus Waters Treaty formed the foundation of modern transboundary water sharing between the two countries
Usage Rights in the Indus Water Treaty
According to the Indus Waters Treaty Indus has full rights over the eastern rivers, while it can use the western rivers for limited, non-consomptive purpose like hydro power and irrigation. These permission within the Indus Waters Treaty are tightly regulated to avoid impacting Pakistan's water supply.
Dispute Resolution Under the Indus Waters Treaty
A major strength of the Indus Waters Treaty is its built-in dispute resolution mechanism. The treaty established the Prmanent Indus Commission (PIC) for regular data sharing and communication. If dispute arise, the Indus Waters Treaty outlines a clear path involving neutral experts and international arbitration strengthening India Pakistan water cooperation
