Web desk: India is escalating tensions with Pakistan by halting water flow especially the Ravi. The long delayed Shahpur Kandi dam sits on the Punjab Jammu and Kashmir border. Authorities expect the dam to be operational by March 31, 2026. Once complete, the dam will divert surplus water from the Ravi River into Indian irrigation and hydropower projects. Consequently, this will reduce the water that has historically flowed into Pakistan.
This project represents a deliberate attempt by India to deprive Pakistan of a vital water resource. Under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, India controls the Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers. Therefore, Pakistan has relied on surplus flows that India historically allowed to cross the border. However, the Shahpur Kandi dam will now capture this water, leaving Pakistani farmers and cities with less access.
For Pakistan, the consequences could be severe. Agriculture contributes nearly 25 percent of the national GDP, and 80 to 90 percent of farming depends on river water. Moreover, cities like Lahore and Multan rely on river-fed groundwater. Experts warn that reduced Ravi water could cause severe shortages during the hot summer months when demand peaks. Indeed, some analysts compare the potential situation to the Cape Town Day Zero crisis, when the city nearly ran out of water.
Pakistani authorities have strongly condemned India’s move as an act of water terrorism. Furthermore, officials and farmers are raising alarms both nationally and internationally. They warn that India’s action is a strategic attempt to control water resources. As a result, farmers fear crop failures, less irrigation and rising costs for food and water. Additionally, urban populations could face severe shortages if India fully diverts the Ravi water.
The Shahpur Kandi dam is not just a development project. Instead, it represents India’s broader strategy to fully use its rights under the Indus Waters Treaty and show that cross-border tensions will have strategic consequences. Therefore, Pakistan must act quickly. The country needs to increase water storage, promote conservation and prepare emergency plans to protect farms and cities like Lahore.
In conclusion, the message is clear. India is actively controlling Ravi water, and Pakistan must prepare for a summer of extreme water stress. The Shahpur Kandi dam shows that water has become a strategic weapon. Consequently, Pakistan faces urgent challenges to protect its water security.
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