The Indus Water Treaty (1960)

• In 1947, when Pakistan was created, the province of Punjab was divided, with part given to India and part to Pakistan
• The head works at Madhupur on the river Ravi and at Firozpur on the Sutlej were in India, but many canals branching off from them were irrigating agriculture lands in Pakistan
• In March 1948, India stopped the flow of water into Pakistani canals, leading to a serious issue
• Pakistan took the water issue up with India, resulting in an interim agreement on 4 May 1948
• Negotiations for a permanent solution began in 1952 under the World Bank's auspices
• In September 1960, the Indus Water Treaty was signed, granting Pakistan exclusive rights over the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) and India over the eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej)
• A transitional period was set to end on 31 March 1970, extendable by three years, during which India agreed to continue supplying water to Pakistan
• Pakistan was expected to construct two storage dams, five barrages, one gated siphon, and eight link canals to divert water from western rivers to the interfluves of the eastern rivers during the transitional period
• The construction cost was to be supported by aid from the United States, the United Kingdom, West Germany, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with India also contributing
• WAPDA was entrusted with the replacement works for the construction
• Q.1 In which year was the Indus Water Treaty signed?

  Ans. 1960.
• Reasons why the Indus Water Treaty was necessary for Pakistan:

  • Most of Pakistan suffers from low and unreliable rainfall
  • Increasing population in Pakistan means more food is needed
  • Punjab was divided between India and Pakistan in 1947 during partition
  • The headwaters of Pakistan's main rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) are in India
  • Head works in India at Madhupur on Ravi and at Firozpur on Sutlej provided water for irrigated land in Pakistan
  • India cut off water supplies to Pakistan in 1948, leading to arid land
  • Pakistan was made to buy water from India
  • India constructed dams on western rivers