India Stops Water to Ravi River amid Construction of New Barrage

Islamabad: Indian media outlets have reported that the flow of water from the Ravi River to Pakistan has been stopped after the construction of the Shahpur Kandi barrage near the border of Indian Punjab and Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Previously, 1150 cusecs of water designated for Pakistan will now be diverted to benefit the Indian-administered region of Jammu and Kashmir.

The diverted water is expected to support agricultural activities in the Kathua and Samba districts, benefiting approximately 32,000 hectares of land. Despite facing challenges over the past thirty years, the Shahpur Kandi barrage project is nearing completion.

Under the Indus Water Treaty signed in 1960, India has exclusive rights over the waters of the Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas rivers, while Pakistan has control over the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers. With the completion of the Shahpur Kandi barrage, India can now fully utilize the water from the Ravi River, previously flowing into Pakistan from the old Lakhanpur dam.

India has constructed various storage works, including the Bhakra Dam on the Sutlej, Pong and Pandoh Dam on the Beas, and Thein (Ranjitsagar) on the Ravi. Projects like the Beas-Sutlej link and the Indira Gandhi Nahar Project have enabled India to utilize approximately 95% of its share of waters from the eastern rivers.

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Despite about two million acre-feet of water from the Ravi River remaining unused and flowing into Pakistan, the completion of the Shahpur Kandi barrage allows India to harness the water resources of the Ravi River for its own benefit.