When Modi Govt Stopped Ravi River Flow To Pakistan Asserting Water And Terror Can't Go Together

New Delhi: India has asked Pakistan to review the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) — a pact which holds significant importance for Islamabad to use the water of three rivers including Indus, Chenab and Jhelum — saying "fundamental and unforeseen" changes in the circumstances require a reassessment of the pact. However, this is not the first time when Modi government has taken a tough stand of 'No Water With Terror' approach towards Pakistan . India made this strategic move after the completion of the Shahpur Kandi Barrage on the Ravi River, stopping the water flow to Pakistan, on February 25, 2024.

With this move, India has sent out a clear message to Pakistan that water and terror cannot flow together. India for several decades has called out Pakistan for being a safe haven to the terrorists and creating unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. Time and again, New Delhi has conveyed it to Islamabad to keep terror in check but Pakistan never stopped backing infiltrators and financially supporting terrorists to cross borders and plan terror activities in India. Under the Modi government, over the years, India completely cornered Pakistan diplomatically, snapping any formal dialogues, trade with the neigbhouring country, saying terror and talks cannot go together. 

How stopping Ravi waters flow to Pakistan benefitted India  

• Under the Indus Water Treaty, India got the exclusive rights to the waters of the Ravi river and to utilise the resource for local agricultural purposes.
• Stopping Ravi river flow to Pakistan benefit India and enhanced it water security, especially in the region of Jammu and Kashmir as it will get an additional 1150 cusecs of water that was earlier allocated to Pakistan . 
• The additional flow of waters within India ensured better irrigation for agricultural purposes, boosting India’s food security. 
• It will also help establishing sustainable urban areas along the riverbanks. 
• It also added upto as an additional source for cleaner drinking water in India minimising risks of contaminated water.

Impact of stopping Ravi river flow to Pakistan   

According to Indus Water Treaty, a share of Ravi river waters was flowing to Pakistan via the Lakhanpur dam. However, India in a strategic move, built the Shahpur Kandi Barrage ceasing the flow to neigbhouring country. How the move impacted Pakistan.

The construction of Shahpur Kandi Barrage on Ravi river stopped the flow of approximately 1150 cusecs of water impacting agricultural activities in Pakistan . 

Not just agricultural activities, the move will have long lasting impacts such as food security, access to better drinking water, better management of water resources in Pakistan .

The development also sent out a clear message to Pakistan that India holds the control and knows how to tighten noose if the former doesn't put terror on check.

The Modi government approved the Shahpurkandi Dam project on the River Ravi in Punjab in 2018. However, the project was incepted in  1950s but it continued to get delayed and construction did not begin until 1992.

The Indus Water Treaty — brokered by the World Bank — was signed between former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and ex-Pakistani president Field Marshal Ayub Khan, on September 19, 1960. The Modi government served notice to   Pakistan under Article XII(3) of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) on August 30, sources have said. Pakistan is yet to react on the development.