India is set to stop the flow of surplus water from the Ravi River to Pakistan with the completion of the Shahpur Kandi barrage by March 31, marking a significant shift in water management ahead of the summer season. The move comes at a time when ties between the two countries remain strained and the Indus Waters Treaty remains suspended.
For years, excess water from the Ravi flowed into Pakistan due to inadequate storage infrastructure on the Indian side. With the Shahpur Kandi barrage now nearing completion, Indian authorities say that “wastage” of water will end and the flow downstream into Pakistan will be curtailed from April onwards.
Project Aims to Boost Irrigation in Jammu and Punjab
The announcement was made by Jammu and Kashmir minister Javed Ahmed Rana, who said the project is intended to provide irrigation benefits to drought-prone districts such as Kathua and Samba. According to officials, the barrage will help irrigate over 32,000 hectares of land, while more than 5,000 hectares in Punjab are also expected to benefit once the project becomes fully operational.
The Shahpur Kandi barrage is being constructed downstream of the Ranjit Sagar Dam on the Ravi River. The project was first envisioned in 1979, with its foundation stone laid in 1982. Although the Ranjit Sagar Dam was completed in 2001, the Shahpur Kandi barrage faced decades of delays due to disputes between Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir and political hurdles.
The breakthrough came in 2018 when the Centre intervened and provided financial assistance to resolve the inter-state dispute. Construction resumed at full pace, and the barrage is now expected to be completed by March 31, 2026.
Indus Waters Treaty Context and Impact on Pakistan
The development comes amid heightened tensions following India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. Under the 1960 agreement, brokered by the World Bank, India has full rights over the eastern rivers Ravi, Beas and Sutlej while Pakistan has rights over the western rivers Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.
Although the Ravi falls under India’s share, surplus water had continued flowing into Pakistan for decades because of incomplete infrastructure. With the completion of the Shahpur Kandi barrage, that surplus flow is set to be regulated and retained within India.
For Pakistan, the implications could be significant. Nearly 80 percent of its agricultural land depends on the Indus river system, and agriculture contributes around a quarter of the country’s GDP. Major cities such as Lahore and Multan also rely heavily on the Indus basin for urban water supply. Reduced downstream flow from the Ravi could add to existing water stress, especially during the summer months.
At the same time, India has accelerated work on hydroelectric projects along the Chenab River and is considering resuming work on the stalled Wular barrage on the Jhelum. Pakistan has approached international forums, including the Court of Arbitration in The Hague, alleging “weaponisation of water,” though India has rejected the proceedings.
The completion of the Shahpur Kandi barrage signals a decisive shift in India’s approach to utilising its allocated eastern river waters. As the summer approaches, the move is expected to reshape water dynamics between the two neighbours, with far-reaching agricultural, economic and diplomatic consequences.