Indus Water Treaty 1960.

Indus Water Treaty

Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960, between India and Pakistan and brokered by the World Bank.
The treaty fixed and delimited the rights and obligations of both countries concerning the use of the waters of the Indus River system.
The Treaty deals with sharing of water of six rivers i.e. Indus, Chenab, Jhelum, Beas, Ravi and Sutlej between India and Pakistan.

The treaty gave India “unrestricted use” of the eastern rivers, the Sutlej, Ravi and Beas. While, Pakistan had unrestricted use of the western rivers, the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus.
On the main river Indus too, India was given the right to exploit without disturbing the flow or quantum.
The treaty also granted India the use of the western rivers for domestic, agricultural and non-consumptive uses including power production, but it must do so in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.
As per the treaty, the water commissioners of Pakistan and India are required to meet twice a year and arrange technical visits to project sites and critical river head works.
Both the sides share details of the water flow and the quantum of water being used under the treaty.
The treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding their use of the rivers.

Pakistan's dependence over the Indus river system

Indus basin has more than 95% of Pakistan’s irrigation infrastructure
It has now become the world’s largest contiguous irrigation system, comprising over 60,000 km of canals.
Three of Pakistan’s biggest dams (including world's largest dam- Mangla dam) is built on the Jhelum river, producing a substantial proportion of Pakistan’s electricity.

Projects to exploit unused river water of eastern rivers: Water of eastern rivers will be diverted to Yamuna through the following three projects:

Ujh Dam in Jammu and Kashmir
Shahapur Kandi Project on the Ravi
Second Ravi-Beas link

Pakistan's objections over Indian Projects: Even before India’s shift in policy, Pakistan had often blamed India for violating the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Examples include