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The diversion of this water could be a major step towards addressing the acute drinking water shortages in Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan
Speaking at a programme to unveil Delhi’s drainage master plan on Friday, Khattar described the situation as ‘aapda mein bhi avsar’, or an opportunity in a disaster. File pic/ANI
Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has announced that water previously flowing to Pakistan will be diverted to Delhi and neighbouring states within the next one and a half years. This move comes after the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a decision made by India in the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in 26 deaths.
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Speaking at a programme to unveil Delhi’s drainage master plan on Friday, Khattar described the situation as “aapda mein bhi avsar“, or an opportunity in a disaster. He explained that following the terror attack, India suspended the decades-old treaty, which had allowed a large quantity of water from the western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab—to flow into Pakistan. This volume, which amounts to an average annual flow of 135 million acre-feet (MAF), is now available for India’s use.
The diversion of this water could be a major step towards addressing the acute drinking water shortages in Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan. However, it also has significant geopolitical implications. While the treaty has not been formally abrogated, India’s actions to fully utilise its share of the water and halt its flow to Pakistan are seen as a powerful diplomatic and strategic tool.
To make this plan a reality, India is accelerating several key infrastructure projects. These include the construction of the Kishanganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects, and a feasibility study for a 113-km canal that would link the Chenab with the Ravi-Beas-Sutlej system. This ambitious inter-basin water transfer project aims to channel surplus flows to states in need, ensuring regional water resilience in the face of growing climate variability. The successful implementation of these projects is crucial for securing India’s water resources and will have a lasting impact on the region’s geopolitical landscape.
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The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
September 20, 2025, 06:51 IST
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