Indus Water Treaty

Indus Water Treaty

News: India and Pakistan have begun another round of the Permanent Indus Commission meeting that is held annually under Indus Water Treaty (IWT) 1960.

About:
• Under the provisions of the treaty, the two sides are required to meet at least once every year, alternately in India and Pakistan.
• It is a Water-Distribution Treaty, signed in Karachi on 1960, between India (Pm Jawaharlal Nehru) and Pakistan (President Ayub Khan), brokered by the World Bank.
• Under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of the eastern rivers-the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi-amounting to around 33 MAF (million acre-feet) annually is allocated to India for unrestricted use.
• The waters of western rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab amounting to around 135 MAF annually are largely for Pakistan.
• Under the Treaty, India has been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through a run of the river projects on the western rivers subject to specific criteria for design and operation.
• It also gives the right to Pakistan to raise concerns on the design of Indian hydroelectric projects on western rivers.

Functions of the Commission:
• To study and report to the two Governments on any problem relating to the development on the waters of the rivers.
• To solve disputes arising over water sharing.
• To arrange technical visits to projects’ sites and critical river head works.
• To undertake, once in every five years, a general tour of inspection of the Rivers for ascertaining the facts.
• To take necessary steps for the implementation of the provisions of the treaty.