The Indus system of rivers comprises the main river — the Indus — along with its five left bank tributaries, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej, Jhelum and Chenab. The right bank tributary, Kabul, does not flow through India.
Eastern rivers are:Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, while Chenab, Jhelum and Indus main comprise western rivers.
At the time of Independence, the boundary line between Pakistan and India was drawn right across the Indus Basin, leaving Pakistan as lower riparian and India as upper riparian.
Two important irrigation works — at Madhopur on Ravi and at Ferozepur on Sutlej, on which the irrigation canal supplies in Punjab (Pakistan) had been completely dependent, fell in Indian territory.
A dispute arose between the two countries regarding the utilisation of irrigation water. Negotiations held under the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank) culminated in the signing of the Indus Water Treaty in 1960.
What the Treaty says
The waters of western rivers with average annual flow of around 135 million acre feet is allocated largely to Pakistan.
India controls about 20% of the total water of the Indus system while Pakistan gets about 80%
What the Treaty says
However, India is permitted to use the waters of the western rivers for domestic use, non-consumptive use, agricultural and generation of hydro-electric power
What the Treaty says
The right to generate hydroelectricity from western rivers is unrestricted subject to conditions for the design and operation of the treaty. India can also create storages up to 3.6 MAF on western rivers
What the Treaty says
Though there is no explicit provision in the treaty for its abrogation, Article 62 of the Vienna Convention on Law of the Treaties provides sufficient room under which it can be repudiated in view of the changed circumstances