The union water resources minister Nitin Gadkari has said that India would utilise the water from 3 rivers that belong to India as per the Indus water treaty and divert the water for use in Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and Haryana. While speaking at the Agri Leadership Summit-2018 in Rohtak, the minister said that three dams would be built to use unutilised water flowing to Pakistan.
Under the Indus water treaty, Pakistan can utilise water from Indus, Chenab and Jhelum. India is allowed to utilise waters from Satluj, Ravi and Beas.
Under the Indus Treaty,water from 3 rivers being given to Pakistan&water from 3 rivers coming to us. Water from our rivers was going into Pak, we are making detailed project reports to stop that from happening&water will be given to Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi&Haryana: Nitin Gadkari pic.twitter.com/5CULHZeqCh
— ANI (@ANI) March 27, 2018
The earlier UPA government had stalled the Tulbul water project which is in the path of river Jhelum. Pakistan had mentioned that it was a precondition to resume talks with India. The move by UPA was perceived as Pakistan appeasement.
The PM had assured the people in a rally at Bathinda that the waters of Sutlej, Beas and Ravi which rightfully belong to India would be utilised better by India for the welfare of its farmers. “There is no reason that we cannot use our rights (over our waters) and let our farmers suffer“, the PM had said. The announcement of Nitin Gadkari seems to be in line with that of the PM’s previous statement.
