A 113 Km-Long Canal: Inside India's Big Indus Waters Treaty Plan

New Delhi:

India is conducting a feasibility study for constructing a 113 km-long canal for redirecting surplus flow from the three western rivers of the Indus water system to Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

 This is  a move aimed at better utilisation of its share of the Indus river waters.  treaty, which was signed in 1960, governs the sharing of the waters of six rivers - Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej - between India and Pakistan.

India's plan to divert water from the Indus river system is centred on the three "Western Rivers" - Jhelum, Chenab and Indus which flow to Pakistan. At present, India doesn't utilize much of the water that flows into these three rivers as their natural route follows a trajectory which is of not much use for India.

The plan, say sources, includes construction of new canals to divert the excess water.  The work is at a preliminary stage, said sources, adding that feasibility reports are being readied.

It is expected that the canal construction work, which will link the Chenab with the Ravi-Beas-Sutlej system, will be completed in the next three years.

The project aims to optimise India's share under the Indus Waters Treaty by better use of both eastern and western rivers, diverting excess flows into Pakistan.

"Indus waters will be taken to Rajasthan's Ganganagar through canals within three years," said Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday during a BJP training session in Madhya Pradesh, adding that Pakistan will be left "craving for every drop of water".