From Chenab To Jhelum, Rivers Run Low – Why Pakistan Is Panicking Over India’s Water | World News
India-Pakistan Water Dispute: While Islamabad is worried about dwindling water supplies from rivers coming from India, officials warn that the situation has become critical. After days showing a sudden drop in the flow of the Chenab River, officials now say that the Jhelum River has also witnessed an unusual decline.
Unable to handle the increasing pressure, Shahbaz Sharif’s government blamed New Delhi for the decrease in flow and claimed that the water was being held upstream in Indian territory.
Earlier this week, Pakistan officially wrote a letter to India over the sudden drop in the flow of the Chenab River. On December 19, Islamabad said India had been asked to explain what was described as an unusual and alarming drop in river discharge.
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Pakistan’s Ministry of Water Resources said it has sought clarification from India on sudden changes in the flow of the Chenab river, which has adversely affected the irrigation of wheat and other crops in various parts of the Punjab province.
After a long period of instability, the flow of the Chenab river has finally returned to a stable level, the ministry said in a statement.
‘Water is Retained in Dams’
Pakistan accused India of deliberately holding back water in the Baglihar Dam. The Ministry stated that satellite images dated December 8 revealed a visible decrease in the surface area of the Baglihar reservoir, and this decrease became even more evident as of December 13.
According to the ministry, the increase following the decrease in the surface area of the reservoir indicates that the reservoir was drained and subsequently refilled.
Decreasing Flow in Jhelum
Officials also pointed out the problems in the Jhelum River and said that the flow of the river was interrupted due to India’s sudden water cuts and evacuations.
The office of Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner Syed Mehar Ali Shah said water levels have fallen in the region from the upper reaches of India to Pakistan’s Mangla Dam. This decline affected irrigation on approximately 15 million acres of farmland, where water supply either dropped or stopped altogether.
A Pakistani television channel quoted Shah as saying that the Jhelum flow was being closely monitored. He said that for now, Pakistan has officially written to India regarding Chenab and further steps will be taken after receiving a response.
He emphasized that Pakistan will continue to voice its objections in cases where water flow is restricted.
