Union Minister Shekhawat Criticises Indus Waters Treaty, Cites Impact on Indian Farmers

By A Staff Reporter

Delhi: Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, expressed strong criticism of the Indus Waters Treaty, contending that its provisions disadvantaged Indian farmers and restricted the country’s water rights.

Shekhawat noted that the treaty, signed in 1960, allocated a majority share of water from the six rivers of the Indus system to Pakistan, despite India retaining a larger share of the land after independence. He said the arrangement, concluded during the tenure of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, left Indian agriculture with limited access to crucial river resources.

The Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, permits India to use waters of the three eastern rivers—Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej—while granting Pakistan control over the three western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. While often cited as one of the most enduring water-sharing agreements between the two countries, the treaty has faced periodic calls for review in light of evolving needs and tensions.