The Ujh Multipurpose Project is an initiative being launched by the Indian government to optimize the utilisation of the country’s water resources as per the Indus Waters Treaty rights. This vital project, set to be built in the Kathua District of Jammu & Kashmir on the River Ujh, seeks to enhance the usage of Eastern Rivers’ water allocated to India. The Ujh River is part of the Ravi river system.
The Significance of Ujh Multipurpose Project
At its core, the UjhMultipurpose Project is designed to fast-track the utilization of India’s rights under the Indus Waters Treaty. The addition of this project will boost India’s capacity to harness the waters of the Ravi River and its tributaries, providing a significant contribution to the Indus Water System and promising benefits for local communities, mainly in terms of irrigation and power generation.
Understanding The Indus Rivers System
The layout of the Indus River System includes the Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. These rivers form a basin that India and Pakistan jointly share.
Insights into The Indus Waters Treaty
The Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, is a unique agreement overseen by a third party – the World Bank. It divides the shared Indus Basin into Eastern and Western Rivers. The Eastern Rivers, namely Ravi, Sutlej, and Beas, are designated for India’s unrestricted use while the Western Rivers – Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab – are allocated to Pakistan with certain exceptions.
Specifically, India is permitted to employ the water from the Western rivers for domestic, non-consumptive, and agricultural purposes. In addition to that, India is authorized to generate hydroelectricity through run-of-the-river projects, subject to specific design and operation criteria.
The Role of The Permanent Indus Commission
To oversee the implementation and management of the Treaty, the Permanent Indus Commission was established as a bilateral body. One of its main responsibilities is to solve any disputes over water sharing that might arise between the two countries. To prevent conflicts from escalating, the Treaty also includes an arbitration mechanism to enable peaceful resolution of disagreements.
India’s Utilization of Western Rivers
Despite the division of rivers between the two countries, the Treaty allows India to utilize 20% of the Western Rivers’ water – Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum – for irrigation, power generation, and transport purposes. This provision adds another layer of strategic importance to the Ujh Multipurpose Project in ensuring India fully exercises its rights under the Treaty.
As India moves ahead with the Ujh Multipurpose Project, it stamps a significant milestone in maximizing the benefits from its share of the Indus River System. It also underscores the country’s commitment to exploiting its water resources responsibly and sustainably, in line with international agreements.
