Lahore:
In a sudden and alarming development, India has significantly increased the influx of water in the Chenab River and accelerating concern about water aggression against Pakistan. The move comes barely days after the New Delhi unilaterally suspended World Bank-broken Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) reported Express News on Tuesday.
The Chenab River-one of the three western rivers awarded to Pakistan during the 65-year-old treaty-soer a drastic and sudden increase in water flow. According to Express News, the influx of Head Marala was registered at only 3,100 CuseCs at. 21 Monday. By Tuesday, it had risen to 26,000 CUSSCS – a dramatic and inexplicable increase within hours.
Punjab -art irrigation minister Kazim Pirzada confirmed the “unnatural change” in the river’s stream.
“We have witnessed changes in the river [Chenab] which is not natural at all, “Pirzada told AFP.” One day the river had normal influx and the next day it was greatly reduced, “he added.” The majority impact will be felt in areas that have fewer alternative water trips, “he said of its influence.
According to daily data shared by the Indus River System Authority (IRSA), a total of 132,000 CUSSCS Water was released from different edge stations, while the influx was at 188,800 CUSSCS. The data also indicated that 7,700 CuseC’s water was released from the Chenab River at Marala.
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT}, signed in 1960 between Pakistan and India, allows India to use the shared rivers for irrigation purposes, but prohibits it from diverting streams or changing downstream streams. However, India suspended, on April 23, the treaty the treaty.
In response, Pakistan indicated that manipulation with his rivers would be considered “an act of war”. On Tuesday, Minister of Information Attaullah repeated the warning while talking in the National Assembly. “Any attempt to divert Pakistan’s water resources would trigger a strong reaction.”
On Monday, according to a Reuters report, India started the “Reservoir Flushing” process at the Salal and Baglihar projects on the Chenab River in the Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The activity was carried out without informing Pakistan – a claim under IWT.
The reservoir Rinse process initially results in the release of sediment -loaded waters downstream from the reservoirs, which potentially causes sudden flooding, followed by a reduced water flow when the reservoirs are replenished.
On Tuesday, according to an Indian newspaper report, the gates of Sluice Spillways on the Baglihar dam were lowered to limit the flow of water as a short-term punishing act. The Punjab art irrigation minister said this was done “so that we do not get used to the water”.
Experts said the water cannot be stopped in the longer term and that India could only regulate times for when it releases flow. However, the Jinnah Institute warned: “Even small changes at the time of water releases may interfere with sowing calendars (and) reduce the crops”.
Meanwhile, according to another Reuters report, India advanced the start date for four substantiated hydroelectric projects in IIOJK after months. The report quoted sources and said the updated schedule was another sign that India was trying to take advantage of its one -sided suspension of IWT.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government had asked authorities to clear obstacles to the rapid construction of four Hydro projects with a combined capacity of 3,014 Megawatt, according to the document, an undated list made by the Ministry of Power and reviewed by Reuters.
In a speech in New Delhi, Modi said that water from IIOJK would be stopped from floating across borders. “India’s water will be stopped for India’s interests and it will be used for India,” he said.
The four projects are Pakal Dul, 1,000 MW; Kiru, 624 MW; Kwar, 540 MW; and RATLE, 850 MW. All of them are on the Chenab River, whose waters are mainly intended for Pakistan. India’s state NHPC is asked to start work between June 2026 and August 2028, the document showed.
Pakistan and India are already in dispute about Ratle in the permanent arbitration court in The Hague. The battle is about the pond or a small water storage area, turbine designed and some other specifications. In total, India wanted work accelerated on a total of seven projects, the report reports. (With input from agencies)
