News India Live, Digital Desk: Indus water treatment: India is going to modernize and expand its network of Indus Basin Canals for the first time in more than a century, which will begin with Kathua, Ranbir and New Pratap channels. The move was taken by India after suspending the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack last month, killing 26 people. Officials say the 1960 Treaty had interrupted India’s ability to upgrade or create new canals on the Indus system despite increasing demand.
The Government of Jammu and Kashmir will start the work of extracting silt on many canals including Ranbir, New Pratap, Ranjan, Tawi Lift, Paragwal, Kathua and Ravi by taking technical assistance from the Center. After getting approval, a plan to increase the capacity of Kathua, New Pratap and Ranbir Canals will be launched to increase irrigation coverage. However, it is not clear which project will be preferred earlier.
Canal upgradation work pending for a long time
Officials say that detail will increase the irrigation capacity of the region, which will help reduce the dependence of irregular monsoon on rainfall. An official said, “These canals were built for the needs of the early 1900s. Their ability is no longer enough.” For example, the 60 km long Ranbir Canal and 34 km long new Pratap Canal, built in 1905, now irrigates much less land than basically employed due to restrictions under IWT.
Jammu division with extreme dependence for irrigation on these canals will benefit greatly from their detail. Ranbir Canal mainly supplies water to Jammu, while the Pratap system provides water to Akhnoor region. Officials say Pratap Canals are “high priority”, especially because the original objective of the old Pratap Canal built in 1906 was to cover only 8,000 hectares of area.
Dam projects boom
Meanwhile, India will also accelerate several pending dam projects including Kishanganga, Ratle, Pakal Dul and Tulbul in the Kashmir region. The Center argues that the IWT has become old due to population growth, climate change and progress in water infrastructure. Pakistan has strongly objected to the suspension of the treaty, warning that any turn of water can be considered hostile. However, India says its steps are appropriate and necessary.
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