Year : 2020, Volume : 24, Issue : 1
First page : ( 70) Last page : ( 89)
Print ISSN : 0971-8052. Online ISSN : 0974-0937. Published online : 2020  05.

The indus waters treaty climate change and its growing threat

Bhat Rameez Mohd

Abstract

The partition of British India in 1947 not only created new boundaries, but also divided the water resources in the subcontinent. Since the flow of water does not follow political diktats, the division and sharing of rights over the water between India and Pakistan have generated conflict at the political level. Although technically water has not been a fundamental problem between the two countries, differences over the utilisation of river water has been a key issue. The I960 Indus Waters Treaty is a water sharing agreement through which the two countries have attempted to resolve water crises in the post-independence period. However, because of loopholes and with the passage of time it has come under strain. While the treaty remains the main governing body, there are areas in which it could be improved. One such area is its response to climate change, as due to changing environmental conditions, what made the contract successful in the past may not hold in the future.

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