Modi government's big decision regarding Indus Water Treaty, Union Minister reveals

The Government of India is working on a strategic and long-term plan to maximise its water resources under the Indus Water Treaty. Under this scheme, special attention is paid to increasing the water storage capacity in hydro projects in Jammu and Kashmir. Announcing this on Tuesday, Union Energy Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that this step is an important initiative towards strengthening the energy security of the country and improving water management.

Manohar Lal Khattar said that special design and technical plans will be prepared to increase the water storage capacity in the hydro projects in Jammu and Kashmir which are currently in the initial stage. This will ensure that the water resources available to India under the Indus Water Treaty are optimally and effectively utilised. Khattar also clarified that no changes will be made to the projects whose technical details have already been finalised and those currently in the pipeline. This is because the design and technical processes of these projects have already been finalised, and making changes to them could be a waste of time and resources.

The Indus Water Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, shares the waters of six rivers of the Indus river system. Under this treaty, India was granted full rights over the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers, and the majority of the water of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers was awarded to Pakistan. India was permitted usage of the three rivers' waters for limited purposes, e.g., hydropower generation and irrigation. 

Recently, India has moved to make greater use of its rights under this treaty. This new plan for enhancing water storage capacity in hydropower projects in the state of Jammu and Kashmir comes as part of this effort. This will enhance hydropower generation as well as facilitate efficient use in other spheres such as flood control, irrigation and drinking water supply.

Jammu and Kashmir, due to its geographical location and availability of river systems, is an ideal region for hydropower projects. Hydro projects in this region are not only important for energy generation but also give impetus to the local economy. Increasing water storage capacity will improve the efficiency of these projects and help meet the energy demand in the region. Also, this scheme will be helpful in reducing the risk of floods during the rainy season and ensuring water availability in case of drought.

Although this scheme is strategically important for India, it also faces some challenges. These include environmental impact, support of local communities, and technical complexities. Apart from this, maintaining balance with Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty is also a sensitive issue.

The central government has assured that all new projects will be designed in accordance with environmental and social standards. Also, resources will be utilized effectively to complete these projects in a timely manner.