Why in news:

• Shahpur Kandi national project is coming up in Kathua district along the border between Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, as per the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
• The project is being hailed as a major developmental transformation being brought about in Jammu & Kashmir.
• The project would be a historic landmark as one of the major events marking the 75th year of India’s independence.
   

The project:
 

• The Shahpur Kandi dam project aims to utilise the full water of the Ravi river in the Indian territory.
• The Dam project is being constructed on river Ravi 11 km downstream of Ranjit Sagar dam and 8 km upstream of Madhopur Headworks in Pathankot district.
• Once this strategic project becomes fully functional, the border districts of Kathua and Samba in Jammu & Kashmir and districts of Pathankot and Gurdaspur in Punjab will be the main beneficiaries.
• The completion of the project will ensure sufficient availability of water for irrigation and power in these regions.
• The dry or less irrigated zone, which was traditionally referred to as “Kandi” belt, will no longer be known as Kandi as a result of adequate availability of water.
  
   

Other key strategic points

 

• As per the government sources, in the absence of Shahpur Kandi project, the major part of India’s share of water from river Ravi was flowing into Pakistan.
• Therefore, the project is intended, among other objectives to reduce the outflow of river water to Pakistan.
• The project is also intended to start giving water through gravity to J&K through Ravi canal, which would help in uplifting socio-economic status of the people of the region.
• It would also create tourism potential and improve the socio-economic conditions of the people in this border area.
• The construction of 1378 metres of balance portion of Ravi canal including proposed construction of aqueduct across Sukhral Khad coming in the alignment of canal is of utmost importance to the inhabitants of area residing in the twin districts of Kathua and Samba in Jammu and Kashmir.
• It would create an irrigation potential of 32173 hectare and can be a potential game changer in the upliftment of the socio-economic condition of the public.
• With the completion of the balance portion of Ravi canal, the existing Basantpur Irrigation lift scheme shall become redundant.
• This will relieve Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir of the recurring huge expenses on account of the energy charges and water shall flow under gravity without interruption to cater the irrigation facility to the kandi area.
• Shahpur-Kandi dam project is slated to  become functional by November 2022.
  
   

Indus Water Treaty:
 

• The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) is a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank, to use the water available in the Indus River and its tributaries.
• It was signed in Karachi on 19 September 1960 by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani President Ayub Khan.
• The Treaty gives control over the waters of the three "eastern rivers"- the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej with a mean annual flow of 33 million acre-feet (MAF) to India.
• Control over the waters of the three "western rivers" - the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum with a mean annual flow of 80 MAF has been given to Pakistan.
• India has about 20% of the total water carried by the Indus system while Pakistan has 80%.
• The treaty allows India to use the western river waters for limited irrigation use and unlimited non-consumptive use for such applications as power generation, navigation, floating of property, fish culture, etc.
• The treaty recognises the rights and obligations of each country in the optimum use of water from the Indus system in a spirit of goodwill, friendship and cooperation.
•  Although, this has not reduced the Pakistani fears that India could potentially create floods or droughts in Pakistan, especially in times of war.