Water dispute deepens: India plans to block Ravi after Indus, pressure mounts on Pakistan

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Following the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, India is now preparing to deal Pakistan another major blow. The central government is taking steps to prevent India's share of the Ravi River from flowing to Pakistan. If implemented, this plan could further deepen Pakistan's water crisis during the summer.

The Shahpur Kandi Dam project, being built on the border between Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir, is now nearing completion. It is reported that once completed, it will prevent excess water from the Ravi River from flowing into Pakistan.

Jammu and Kashmir Minister Javed Ahmad Rana said that once the dam is completed, excess Ravi water will be diverted to drought-prone districts like Kathua and Samba. He said the project is being built on priority for the Kandi region and aims to meet local needs. He said the project could be completed by March 31st.

Currently, some excess water from the Indian side of the Ravi River flows into Pakistan. This water will be impounded through the Shahpur Kandi Dam and used for irrigation in drought-affected areas of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

The project was conceived in 1979. The foundation stone was laid in 1982 by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. However, construction was stalled for a long time due to a dispute between Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir. In 2008, it was granted national project status.

The Punjab government has contributed approximately ₹2,694 crore and the central government ₹700 crore to this dam, which is being built at a cost of approximately ₹3,394 crore. The dam is approximately 55 meters high and 7.7 kilometers long. It will irrigate approximately 5,000 hectares of land in Punjab and more than 32,000 hectares in the Kathua and Samba districts of the Jammu region.

Former Irrigation Minister Taj Mohideen says the Indus Water Treaty does not govern the dam's operation, as India has rights over the Ravi River waters.