“The fields of our farmers must have adequate water. Water that belongs to India cannot be allowed to go to Pakistan. The government will do everything to give enough water to our farmers,” says Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the inauguration of new AIIMS at Bhatinda, Punjab. In an attempt to woo the farmers of Punjab Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the water that belongs to India will first fulfill the needs of the farmers here and then will be allowed to Pakistan in reference to the Indus Water treaty between India and Pakistan treaty that was formed in 1960.
The treaty gives India control over the Rivers- Beas, Ravi and Sutlej. But in the case of Indus, Chenab and Jhelum thy are to be governed by Pakistan. The Indus river has its origins and mostly flows in India, but our country has the permission to use only 20% of the water. PM Modi added, “We formed a task force of Indus water treaty to ensure farmers of Punjab and other states get each drop of water due to them.”
In regard to this Pakistan has recently given a warning about the usage of water and how it might spark a war. Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi said in her address to the UN Security Council during an open debate on water, peace and security that, “The international community must assume a responsibility to develop, nurture and protect normative frameworks, at multilateral and bilateral levels, to ensure that states remain willing to resolve water issues cooperatively.”
While there was an uproar regarding demonetisation, in the parliament Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged at the inaugural function that though demonetisation may have adverse effects in the short run, it will have very positive effects in the future and make India cashless and digital economy.
