India to revamp century-old Indus canals after suspending Indus Waters Treaty

India to rebuild canals, dig new ones to tap into the Indus

India has initiated plans to revamp and expand a network of canals linked to the Indus River basin, starting with the Kathua, New Partap, and Ranbir canals, marking the first major upgrade since their construction over a century ago. The move follows India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.

Indus Waters Treaty suspension clears the way for canal upgrades

The 65-year-old Indus Waters Treaty had previously limited India’s ability to modernize, expand, or construct new water channels from the Indus basin rivers. Following its suspension on April 23, these long-pending projects have been prioritized.

Officials confirmed that desilting operations will begin soon in multiple canals, including:

• Ranbir Canal
• New Partap Canal
• Ranjan Canal
• Tawi Lift Canal
• Paragwal Canal
• Kathua Canal
• Ravi Canals

The Jammu and Kashmir government will execute the work under the technical supervision of Central agencies.

Expanding irrigation to meet growing demand

The primary objective is to enhance water-carrying capacity and increase India’s net irrigated area, which has remained stagnant. These upgrades will reduce reliance on the increasingly unpredictable summer monsoon, which currently waters around 60% of India’s net-sown area.

Historical canals built for a bygone era

• Ranbir Canal (built in 1905) spans approximately 60 km, designed for the agricultural demands of the early 20th century.
• Old Partap Canal (built in 1906) catered to just 8000 hectares of farmland.
• New Partap Canal stretches 34 km, but irrigates only 9030 hectares, far below its intended capacity of 16500 hectares.

Due to treaty-imposed restrictions, these canals were never upgraded to meet present-day agricultural needs.

Proposed expansions and increased utilization

Under the Indus Waters Treaty, the Ranbir Canal’s water flow was capped at 1000 cusecs for irrigation and 250 cusecs for hydropower. The proposed expansions aim to fully utilize irrigation potential and extend command areas, offering relief to water-starved regions like Jammu’s Kandi belt.

Officials stressed that these works are essential for year-round agriculture, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, where late-arriving monsoons provide limited rainfall compared to India’s heartland.

Pakistan’s objections and India’s firm stand

Pakistan has warned that any diversion or restriction of Indus water flow downstream will be viewed as an “act of war.” However, India maintains that the treaty has become obsolete due to:

• Advances in dam technology
• Climate change impacts on water flow
• Increased population pressure

India has reiterated that the suspension of the treaty will continue, irrespective of diplomatic pressure from Pakistan.

Upcoming projects and strategic water management

In addition to canal expansions, India plans to expedite several dam projects in the Kashmir region, including:

• Kishenganga
• Ratle
• Miyar Nallah
• Lower Kalnai
• Pakal Dul
• Tulbul navigation project on Wullar Lake

J&K’s leadership, including former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has consistently advocated for the completion of these projects.

Conclusion

The revamp of Indus-linked canals marks a significant step in India’s strategy to modernize its irrigation infrastructure post-Indus Waters Treaty suspension. These developments are crucial for strengthening agricultural resilience, enhancing water security, and addressing long-standing regional disparities in irrigation coverage.

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