Much water has flowed down the Indus river, literally, since India and Pakistan signed the much-acclaimed Indus Water Treaty this day 53 years ago – September 19, 1960, to be precise. But, the blame game between the two neighbours continues as the sharing of waters remains a much debatable issue.
Some disputes notwithstanding, the treaty is considered one of the world’s most successful trans-boundary water treaties. It addresses specific water allocation issues, provides unique design requirements for run-of-the-river dams to ensure steady water flow and guarantee power generation through hydro-electricity, and also provides a mechanism for consultation and arbitration, should questions, disagreements or disputes arise between the incumbents. The treaty continues to remain intact despite trust deficit between the two nuclear neighbours.