Pakistan has reported a sharp decline in Chenab river water levels following India’s suspension of the Indus Treaty and closure of Baglihar and Salal Dam Gate. According to Pakistan’s Dawn news site, the water flows in the Chenab, recorded at the Marala headworks, decreased from up to 35,000 cusecs on Sunday to about 3,100 cusecs on Monday morning. A senior official of Pakistan’s Punjab irrigation department further confirmed it and said, “They have almost blocked the River Chenab flows to downstream (Pakistan) after they (Indian authorities) took the decision on Sunday.”
Additionally, a meeting of the advisory committee of the Indus River System Authority was held on Monday in Islamabad. In this meeting, concerns over India’s unilateral decision were expressed, which is set to impact irrigation of Kharif crops with an estimated 21 percent shortfall. It is important to note here that Pakistan depends on these river system for irrigation purposes for majority of their agriculture.
The water regulator declared an overall shortage of 21pc for the remaining early Kharif season in case supplies in River Chenab remained normal. However, the situation would be monitored on a daily basis and if the decrease continues, the shortages would be revisited accordingly, Dawn News reported.
Pakistan Alleges Foul Play
Moreover, Dawn reported that the Pakistan Commission on Indus Waters (PCIW) had shared a detailed report with the federal government about massive violation of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) by New Delhi. The report mentions a massive breach of the treaty by India in the form of construction of three hydroelectric plants / projects at the western rivers, including Jhelum and Chenab.
“The report also contains the information about other violations of the treaty by India such as delaying or avoiding giving information regarding release of floodwater during monsoon in rivers, including Ravi and Satluj. Besides these, there are a series of violations India committed already,” reported Dawn.
It (Dawn) further quoted Syed Jamat Ali Shah, a former commissioner on Indus Waters, who stated that the draft of treaty finalised in 1960 gives no privilege to India to use waters of western rivers—Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. He went on to say that that Pakistan had the full right to use water of these rivers. However, Jamat highlighted that India had full right to use the water of eastern rivers-Ravi, Beas and Satluj whether through construction of dams for irrigation or other purposes.
He further urged Pakistani officials to take up this issue with the World Bank immediately in a bid to get the India’s unilateral decision of holding treaty in abeyance scrapped.
Notably, following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed 26 lives, India had taken series of measures against Pakistan. The measures included the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960.
