Linking Tawi-Ravi Rivers, another Serious violation

The Indus System of Rivers comprises three Eastern Rivers, Sutlej, Beas and Ravi and three Western Rivers, Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. Under the Treaty, the waters of the Eastern Rivers stand allocated to India and those of Western Rivers largely to Pakistan. Nevertheless, India interlinked Tawi River and Ravi River by interlinking them with Ravi-Tawi lift irrigation project withdrawing almost up to 857 cusecs of water daily from river Tawi. As per Indus Water Treaty Chenab river was allocated to Pakistan and Tawi River is a major left bank tributary of river Chenab. The river originates from the lapse of Kali Kundi glacier and adjoining area south-west of Bhadarwah in Doda District. The catchment area of the river up to Indian border (Jammu) is 2168 km², and falls within the districts of Jammu, Udhampur and a small part of Doda. River Tawi joins Chenab near Pakistan India working boundary. It was appealed by Arshad H Abbasi, research fellow of SDPI in letter addressed to Ministry of water and Power In his letter to ministry of water and power and environment,

However, justification of this most gigantic Irrigation Project of India that is illegitimate link of two rivers is given to irrigate in Kandi region stretched from Jummu up to Eastern. The water from left bank of Tawi River at point Bahu fort Jummu is lifted 31 meters by pumps.

In his letter to minister water and power Arshad H Abbasi reminded to check the irrigation provision as given in annexure "C" of Indus water Treaty. As per treaty , The Ranbir canal system and Partap canal system were constructed before signing of Indus water treaty so agriculture use permitted to India from Western Rivers is 9,12,477 Acre and over and above 6.42 lakh acres being irrigated by India from the Western Rivers on the Effective Date i.e. 1.4.1960. The permissible withdrawals from the Ranbir and Pratap Canals, India is entitled to irrigate additional irrigated cropped area (ICA) in 70,000 acre from Indus, 150,000 from Jhelum and only 50,000 from Chenab. Thus only 2,70,000 acres could be irrigated from western rivers but India has developed three major canals after 1960 that are The Kashmir canal system, The High canal system in Jammu and the Ravi-Tawi Link irrigation system. India submitted a justification that Since India has not built any Conservation Storage on Western Rivers, India can develop irrigation by withdrawals from western rivers. More over Igo-phey canal has been commissioned for irrigation in Leh and Kurbathang canal in Kargil. A few more canals are under construction in the Ladakh region would surrender the right of India to build dam on Indus.

As per treaty water, only 0.15 million-acre feet can be used for hydropower in Indus and 0.35 MAF for irrigation, with completion of these canals India can not build any dam on Indus at all.

However, at same time India initiated major hydropower projects on western rivers, particularly on Chenab, Pakal Dul hydropower project having capacity 1000 Megawat, Kiru hydropower project having capacity 600 MW, Kawar hydropower project having capacity 520 MG

Bursar hydropower project having capacity 1020 MW, Karthoi hydropower project having capacity 990 MW, Rattle hydropower project having capacity 560 MW and Shamnot hydropower project having capacity 370 Mw. While three main projects Baglihar hydropower project having capacity 450 MW, Dul Hasti hydropower project having capacity 390, Salal hydropower project having capacity 690 MW already completed.

Completion these projects would be serious hampers consistency of flow in Chenab River that ultimately effect agro economy of Pakistan.

He has also stated that The IWT has been a success, despite the ongoing rivalry between India and Pakistan and need is to strengthen. With water becoming increasingly scarce, it is essential to transform Indus Water commission setup in both counties as article IX of treaty to settlement of differences and disputes as well-endowed and effective technical body. It must reinforce real-time monitoring technologies to check the status of water quality and for quantity use of satellites to supplement ground information. Satellite altimetry technology is widely used now to measure surface water quantity.

He has also urged that the World Bank had proven an honest broker in the IWT and nowadays the Bank supports a series of trans-boundary water issues with diligence and unbiased reporting for all stakeholders of shared waters, particularly in the establishment of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) and Danube River Basin. The NBI is sharing substantial socioeconomic benefits for promotion of regional peace and security among ten most water deficient and poor African countries depending on the Nile River. Bank has also developed a shared vision programme that focuses on building institutions, sharing data and information and providing training to develop water utilisation capacity. International bodies such as the World Bank ought to help rebuild the Indus Water Commission to build the trust and to avert any serious conflict between the two atomic powers.

Arshad H Abbasi