India has started stopping water after canceling the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan. The water level of Chenab river in Pakistan has now reached its lowest level in a month due to the closure of the gate of two dams. Such a situation is expected to continue for the next few days and this is likely to cause heavy losses to the neighboring country. This is a ban imposed under the Indus Water Treaty.
India closed the gates of two dams
Two hydroelectric projects, Salal and Bagihar dams, located about 78 km away, were closed on Sunday. Because sediment and debris are cleaned annually. Due to which the rivers of the neighboring country came in spate for a few days. The work of extracting silt from the dams and filling them is usually done during the monsoon in August. However, India suspended the Indus Water Treaty this year in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
Ban imposed under treaty
According to its design, Salal and Bagihar dams cannot store large amounts of water. This is a ban imposed under the Indus Water Treaty. The data from the Indus River System Authority of Pakistan suggests that the water flow has declined rapidly. Which was 29,675 cusecs on 23 April. Which has increased to 11,423 cusecs by 5 May. That is, a reduction of 61 percent has been recorded. Intercontor means that at any time the amount of water entering the reservoir of the dam.
The water flow also decreased.
Similarly, there has been a huge decline of 83 percent in water flow data. Till 5 May it was reduced from 21,675 cusecs to only 3761 cusecs. The outflow is the amount of water released from the reservoir of a dam. When the river flow is moderate. Then water can remain in the reservoirs of Salal and Bagihar dams for about 4 days. When the flow of water is low, the water can be stored for 16 days. The Indus Water Treaty gives Pakistan special rights over the water of Chenab, Jhelum and Indus rivers. India can use its water only for power generation and irrigation. So that the flow below is not affected.
Possibility of agrarian crisis in Pakistan
Muhammad Khalid Idris Rana, spokesperson of the Indus River Management Authority of Pakistan, said that the flow of water in the Chenab river flowing in Pakistan has been reduced by about 90 percent of the normal amount since Sunday morning. He said that if the water flow cuts continue, Pakistan would be forced to cut water supply in the fields up to the fifth part. The Government of India has asked various agencies to accelerate the work of Pakal Dul, Kiru, Quar and Ratle hydroelectric projects on the Chenab River. According to an assessment of the International Nature Conservation Association, the total water storage of these dams, once completed, will provide India the ability to make a big impact, especially during the dry season of the Rabi crop. The Chenab River is important for Pakistan’s irrigation system as its canals irrigate a large part of arable land in Punjab, Pakistan.
