(Image source from: Ndtv.com)
India is preparing to make significant modifications to the Indus River system to satisfy the water needs of the northern regions. Following the halt of the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, the government is aiming to finish the project before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
In a meeting last Friday with high-ranking ministers, it was revealed that a comprehensive project report is currently being created to build a 14-km tunnel linking the Indus River and the Beas River, both part of the Indus system, according to individuals familiar with the ongoing changes. The well-known construction company L&T has been assigned to develop this project report, which is predicted to be done by the next year. The meeting also covered the plans for a proposed 113-km canal that would transport Indus water to the northern states. The Indus Water Treaty, a crucial agreement for water sharing signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan with help from the World Bank, was suspended by India following a terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. The government declared that “water and blood can't flow together.”
Since then, the government has been working on a thorough scheme to make use of India’s portion of the Indus water. To achieve this goal, an ambitious project has been planned under the Inter-Basin Indus Water Transfer Scheme, which is overseen by the highest government officials. Sources indicate that one of the project's most difficult tasks is constructing the 14-km tunnel. This tunnel will necessitate an in-depth examination of the mountain rocks, and if the rocks are weak, pipes will be used for the tunnel instead. Construction will begin once the government receives the detailed project report. To ensure quick and safe construction, tunnel boring machines and rock shield technology have been suggested. Additionally, the tunnel will connect to the Ujh Multipurpose Project located in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, allowing water to flow from the Ujh River, which is a tributary of the Ravi, to the Beas Basin. Once this tunnel is completed, it will connect the Ravi-Beas-Sutlej system with the Indus Basin, helping India to fully utilize its share of water. Sources anticipate that building it will take about three to four years, aiming for completion by 2028, with an estimated cost ranging from Rs 4,000 to 5,000 crore.
The building of the tunnel will happen in different parts, which was shared during the meeting on Friday. The goal of the project is to improve water supply for farming in the dry areas of Rajasthan by redirecting water to the Indira Gandhi Canal. Other states like Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Delhi, and Punjab will also gain advantages from this initiative. A new canal will be created to link the Chenab River to the Ravi-Beas-Sutlej system. This will connect to the current canal systems in those states, allowing water to flow directly to the Indira Gandhi Canal and supply water to Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan. Additionally, this project will boost the availability of drinking water in Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
The initiative will prevent too much water from India’s portion from going to Pakistan, which will enhance the country’s water safety and reinforce the government’s stance that "water and blood cannot coexist." It will also help tackle the effects of climate change and shifting rainfall trends, as well as strengthen the current 13 canal systems. There are also plans to lengthen the Ranbir Canal from 60 to 120 kilometers in Jammu.
