GS Paper 2
Syllabus: Bilateral Agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Source: DTE
Context: Indus Water Treaty (IWT) seems to be struggling to gain support in the J&K region.
Background:
- One of the few instances of a significant international river basin conflict being resolved in South Asia is the IWT, signed by India and Pakistan in 1960.
- However, the J&K region’s residents claim that the treaty prevents them from utilising their own water resources, significantly impacting the UT’s growth.
- This indicates the widespread resentment among the residents over the existence of IWT.
Reasons for resentment: It is due to the perception that the treaty has resulted in a loss of water resources, which has had a detrimental impact on the UT’s potential for –
| Agriculture | ● Jammu and Kashmir’s economy is mainly dependent on agriculture. Nearly 70% of the people here depend on agriculture for their income, directly or indirectly.
● The UT’s irrigation system has merely improved over the years. In Kashmir, the primary irrigation method (canal) has seen a dismal development.
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| Power generation | The region’s hydropower potential, which will give its economy a powerful boost, is not fully realised.
● Of the potential hydropower capacity (20,000 MW), only 3,263.46 MW/19.80% have been used so far. ● IWT only allows for run-of-the-river projects that do not affect the riparian rights of Pakistan.
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What residents want and the steps taken:
- Abrogation of the treaty.
- Quantify the losses incurred to aid the UT in seeking compensation.
- Consequently, the government started the process of quantifying the losses.
Conclusion: As the issue of IWT is again in the spotlight due to India’s appeal to Pakistan to modify it, the people of J& eagerly expect policymakers to pay attention to their concerns.
Insta Links:
The Indus Waters Treaty, and why India has issued notice to Pakistan seeking changes
