Can India really make Pakistan thirsty by stopping water?

India has suspended the Indus Water Treaty, but the question still remains inconclusive: Can India really stop the flow of Indus River?

New Delhi: After the 2016 Uri terror attack, the India-Pakistan water dispute is once again in the news. After Water Resources Minister Kailash Chaudhary's statement "We will not give a single drop of water to Pakistan", experts have raised questions on its practicality.

What are the Key Challenges?

• Huge infrastructure required to hold 133 million acre feet of water on Chenab and Jhelum
• Restarting the Tulbul project (Wular Lake), which has been stalled since 1987, is a possible option
• Kishanganga project is an example of success despite opposition from Pakistan
• Demand for reconsideration of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960
• Role of World Bank and international arbitration
• Possible response from countries like the US
• Target to increase power generation from 450 gigawatts to 1000 gigawatts
• Need for water conservation for hydro power projects
• Additional demand of 1.5 trillion cubic meters of water by 2050

What Experts say?

Water experts believe that it is not practical to completely hold back water from Pakistan. However, political pressure can be created by reviving select projects. This process will take 25-30 years and require huge resources.

While the talk of “conserving water” satisfies public sentiment, in reality India has to strike a balance between its energy needs and international treaties. Experts suggest that it would be more effective to formulate a long-term strategy on water management and infrastructure development.