| A report by IWMI-Tata Water Policy Programme has revealed that the Indus Water Treaty signed by India and Pakistan in 1960 has put Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) behind by an estimated Rs 6,500 crore annually. |
| The report also says that J&K's power generation and agriculture potential has been badly hit by the treaty. |
| IWMI-Tata Water Policy Program was established in Anand through a partnership between the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Colombo, and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Mumbai to carry the research work in the field of water management. The report was tabled at the recently concluded IWMI-Tata Water Policy Partner's Meet at Anand. |
| The IWMI researcher F A Shaheen, in his report titled "Indus Water Treaty: Scrapped or Abrogated", states: "The treaty which was carried out in the best interests of the nation has, however, deprived J&K of using its own water resources and thereby severely affected development in the state. The treaty made Punjab prosperous by using the water of the eastern rivers for agriculture and power generation. This, however, put J&K behind by an estimated Rs 6,500 crore. The losses are not there in the agriculture sector alone but on a much higher scale in the generation of hydropower which has an otherwise estimated potential of 20,000 MW." |
| The treaty was signed at Karachi by Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan, the then President of Pakistan, and Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Indian Prime Minister, with arbitration of the World Bank on September 19, 1960. |
| The Indus System of Rivers comprises three Eastern Rivers (Sutlej, Beas and Ravi) and three Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab). |
| Under the treaty, J&K can use only limited waters of the Chenab and Jhelum for power generation and lift irrigation. It cannot built reservoirs or dams on these rivers without prior approval of Pakistan. Nor can it construct any barrage for irrigation. |
| The Irrigation and Flood Control Department of the state has proposed 12 new irrigation schemes for Baramulla, Kupwara, Anantnag and Budgam districts on the various streams which are awaiting approval. |
| Shaheen observes that the food grain import graph of J&K shows a sharp increase in overall imports. J&K, according to his estimates, could have increased its area under irrigation by one lakh acres had the state had the freedom to harness its available water resources. |
| The IWMI report suggests, "One way to compensate J&K for the losses could be a favourable sharing ratio for power generated from centrally funded projects in the state." |
Indus Water Treaty hit J&K growth: IWMI
Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel
First Published: Mar 11 2005 | 12:00 AM IST
