The cruciality of safeguarding water, an indispensable resource, is becoming increasingly apparent. One could say that water scarcity appears to be the next eminent challenge that many foresee wars might erupt over. The pertinence of this issue for India, which shares a longstanding dispute with Pakistan on water sharing and dam construction, is worth noting. The crux of the contention lies in a recently built Indian dam designed to channel the flow of the Ravi River towards Indian territories, an act that has stirred a hornet’s nest in neighboring Pakistan with critics noosing it as “Water Terrorism.”
Published yesterday in Pakistan’s renowned newspaper Dawn, a story delineated details of a protest rally instigated by civil society groups. A second piece accompanied this coverage, bearing the thunderous headline – “Water Terrorism.” The bone of contention provoking this vigorous debate is the Shahpurkandi Dam, overseen by Indian authorities.
Integral to a multi-dimensional project that includes two hydroelectric power plants, the project is at the center of a whirlwind due to its impact on the Ravi River. Historically, a portion of the river’s waters found its way to Pakistan, unluckily translating into waste. The new dam will curb this excess, channeling a direct flow to Indian farmers in Jammu, Kashmir, and Punjab for irrigation purposes.
Originally cleared in the 1990s with the foundation laid by the then Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, the project endured numerous stalls due to intergovernmental disputes and funding issues. Fast forward to 2018, with New Delhi’s intervention, the project witnessed a revival and is now raising concerns in Pakistan.
Several groups have voiced their demands – the restoration of the natural flow of the Ravi River, and a review of the salient Indus Water Treaty – put into effect in 1960 to govern water sharing between the neighbors.
Despite the clamor rising from across the border, India is expected to maintain its stance. The Indus Treaty provides full rights to these waters to India, disputing Pakistan’s claims. Pakistan’s pleas to the World Bank, which originally aided in the formulation of the Indus Treaty, have so far been unsuccessful. India maintains its compliance with the treaty and autonomy over its dams.
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However, with increasing water scarcity and a rising demand for freshwater and hydroelectricity on both sides of the border, the dispute is far from over. Although a war over water remains yet unchartered territory for both nations, the escalating tensions and dissent portray an ominous potential for conflict.
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