Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, an open critic of the 1960 Indus-Water Treaty, is hopeful that the central government will give a go-ahead for the completion of the Tulbul Navigation project in Kashmir and the diversion of Chenab River water to alleviate Jammu’s water scarcity.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror strike on April 22 that killed 26 people, mainly tourists, the Centre announced a slew of measures against Pakistan for supporting terror groups and waging a proxy war against India. It included keeping the 1960 Indus-Water Treaty in abeyance.
According to the treaty, India has unrestricted access to the waters of the eastern rivers — Sutlej, Beas and Ravi — amounting to around 33 million acre-feet (MAF) annually, while Pakistan receives the majority of the water from the western rivers — the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab –totalling around 135 MAF annually. PTI
