Context:
Pakistan has expressed the hope that India would implement the Indus Waters Treaty in “good faith”.
About IWT, 1960:
- Aim – To establishes a framework for collaboration and sharing of information between India and Pakistan regarding the utilization of the waterof the Indus River and its 5 tributaries.
- Signatories – India, Pakistan and World Bank.
- Allocation of Rivers for unrestricted use –
- Pakistan – 3 western rivers(Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum)[80% of water share]
- India –3 eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej)
- Established Permanent Indus Commission for both the countries.
- Meeting – At least once a year.
- India’s Rights over Pakistan Rivers –
- Annexure C of IWT: Allows certain agricultural uses
- Annexure D of IWT: Allows to build ‘run of the river’ hydropower projects i.e. projects not requiring live storage of water.
- Article IX provides a 3-step dispute resolution mechanism.
- Permanent Commission/inter-government level
- Appointing Neutral Expert by World Bank
- Court of Arbitration
About Indus River:
- Origin – Bokhar Chu glaciers of Kailas Range(near Mansarovar Lake)
- Total Length – 2880 km(India – 1110 km & Pakistan – 710 km)
- Major Tributaries:Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej
- River Basin: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Union Territory of Chandigarh
- Rivers Contributing to Indus
- River Zaskar at Leh
- River Shyok and River Shigar near Skardu
- River Kabul at Attock
- Sutlej Rivers (Panch river waters) near Mithankot
- Suru and Dras near Kargil
Descending order (Length): Indus → Sutlej → Chenab → Ravi → Jhelum → Beas
North to South: Indus → Jhelum → Chenab → Ravi → Beas → Sutlej
| Major Rivers | Source | River joins with | Place of joining | Length |
| Jhelum | Verinag | Chenab | Trimmu | 720km |
| Chenab | BaraLachaPass | Sutlej | Panjnad | 1180km |
| Ravi | NearRohtangPass | Chenab | Near Rangpur inPakistaniPunjab | 725km |
| Beas | NearRohtangPass | Sutlej | HarikeinPunjab | 460km |
| Sutlej | Manasarovar-RakasLakes (Tibet) | Indus | Near Mithankot | 1050kminIndia (1450kmtotal) |
Source: The Hindu
With reference to the Indus River system, of the following four rivers, three of them pour into one of them which joins the Indus direct. Among the following which is one is such river that joins the Indus direct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – Prelims – 2018]
a) Chenab
b) Jhelum
c) Ravi
d) Sutlej
