Why river water from parched Punjab is flowing unused into Pakistan
During the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a rally in Jalandhar, said he would ensure that India's share of the Indus river water flowing into Pakistan is given to 'Punjab ki dharti ' (land of Punjab) instead.
Nine years on, a lot of water from the rivers flowing through Punjab is still going to Pakistan, even as the state itself struggles for water.
The problem is that India lacks a mechanism to store water over which it has legitimate rights under the now-suspended Indus water system. While in times of scarcity, even the Indian states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan clamour for this water, in the monsoon, when the rivers are gushing, there is no way to store the water, and Pakistan accuses India of releasing 'excess water' into its territory.
Under the Indus Water Treaty, all the water of the 'Eastern Rivers' of the Indus system — Sutlej, Beas and Ravi — is available for the 'unrestricted use' of India. Pakistan receives water from the 'Western Rivers' — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab.
Punjab: a water problem
Around 47% of Punjab's water needs are met through groundwater, which is depleting fast.
Punjab's annual water demand stands at 66.12 billion cubic meters (BCM), of which 62.58 BCM is required for agriculture. However, the total available water is only 52.85 BCM, creating a deficit of 13.27 BCM. The effective rainfall provides 20.98 BCM, while the availability of groundwater that can be replenished is 17.07 BCM. Canal water contributes 14.80 BCM.
Despite being a major riparian state, Punjab has limited rights to its three perennial rivers (Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas), which together carry 42.4 BCM of water. Punjab's allocated share is 17.95 BCM, while the rest is for other states, like Haryana and Rajasthan. The available canal water is estimated at 14.80 BCM. The deficit of 13.27 BCM is being met through the over-exploitation of groundwater.
According to aquifer mapping studies conducted in 2017 by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), Punjab's groundwater resources are depleting at an alarming rate, said Dr. Rakesh Sharda of Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana.
How much water goes to Pakistan from the Eastern Rivers?
A significant amount of water, especially from the Ravi, flows unused into Pakistan every year.
Out of the 42.6 BCM of water in Punjab's rivers, the state uses just 14.80 BCM. The remaining water flows to Rajasthan (approximately 10.6 BCM), Haryana, and Pakistan. During the monsoon season, surplus water from these rivers is released to Pakistan, said sources in the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB).
For instance, in 2019, from April to June, around 2,060 million cubic meters (MCM) of water was released from the major dams on the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi. Of this, 30-40% was used within Punjab for irrigation, while the rest was released to Pakistan and other Indian states through the canal network. While these figures, reported by the Central Water Commission (CWC), support the state government's argument of releasing excess water to prevent flooding, they also highlight Punjab's failure to utilise available water to address its supply gaps.
Why is Punjab not storing this water?
Only the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi have dams; smaller rivers and rivulets, which often flood vast areas during heavy rains, require better management. Canalisation—directing river water into specific channels, using mini-dams or constructing embankments (Dhussi bandhs) to control surplus flows—has not yet been effectively implemented. Although former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced plans to canalise Punjab's rivers and other water sources during the 2019 floods, no significant progress has been made.
In addition, there is a need to remodel Punjab's canal system, especially to manage excess water from Beas and tributaries like the Ujh. Such measures would help divert water for irrigation and recharge the rapidly depleting groundwater table.
There are also concerns about the indiscriminate encroachment of floodplains, which further complicates water management.
Urban water supply crisis in Punjab
Punjab's major cities, such as Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Amritsar, face a severe water shortage during the summer.
In Jalandhar, there was a proposal to bring in the Beas water, but the project, which would cost around Rs 2,000 crore, is yet to materialise.
'The water crisis in Punjab is not just about scarcity—it's also about mismanagement and a lack of infrastructure. The state is caught in a complex web of water-sharing disputes with its neighboring states and Pakistan, all the while facing the looming threat of desertification. Unless substantial investments are made in water management, storage, and infrastructure, and area under paddy is decreased, Punjab's water crisis will only deepen,' said an expert from the Punjab Water resources department.
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