Water of River Ravi fully Stopped to Pakistan

Context

Recently The Shahpur Kandi barrage work has been completed and immediately after completion of this, the water flow from the river Ravi has been stopped completely to Pakistan 

Benefits of halting River flow to Pakistan

• Post the completion of the Shah Kandi Barrage, the natural resources of the River Ravi can be preserved for India which was earlier flowing to Pakistan and now all natural resources will flow towards Jammu and Kashmir. 
• Once the flow of water stopped to Pakistan from Ravi River, it means indirectly Jammu and Kashmir will be allocated a water source abundantly and will get 1,150 cusecs of water which was earlier diverted to Pakistan. 
• The Prime Minister of India gave the utmost priority to the Shahpur-Kandi Dam project which will directly irrigate the farmlands of Jammu and Kashmir in thousands of Acres. 
• Since the water is now available for Jammu and Kashmir, the irrigation system will be highly enriched and will directly benefit the people and will irrigate more than 32,000 hectares of Kathua and Samba district’s Land.

About Shahpur Kandi Barrage

• This is one of the historical dam projects which was recently completed post which Water from River Ravi has been completely stopped to Pakistan.  
• The Foundation stone for this barrage was laid in 1995 by the Former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao. 
• The location of this barrage is in the Pathankot district of Punjab and lies on the border of Punjab and J&K.  
• Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab Government signed an agreement in 2018 for the construction of Shahpur – Kandi dam project. 
• It was earlier in dispute between Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir Govt. which was the reason for the suspension of the activities for more than four and half years.

Interference of Pakistan

• Pakistan was continuously disturbing, raising issues or tensions between the two countries as and when India started to use water or build a dam as per the Indo-water treaty. 
• India always wanted to reach out to a solution or dialogue for a resolution to any argument or issue, but Pakistan did not turn out for an amicable discussion or meetings from 2017 to 2023. 
• The World Bank had initiated steps for Arbitration with neutral experts.

Conclusion

This is a revolutionary movement of the completion of construction of Shahpur-Kandi Barrage because it enables India to use the Indus water Treaty more effectively and pass on the benefits to the Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab region.

Source: The Times of India

UPSC Mains Practice Question

Q.Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and political implications in the context of changing bilateral relations. (2016)

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