Newsmaker of the week: Expert Kuldeep Singh links Punjab’s water dispute to historical decisions, political unrest
Explaining the origins of the dispute, he said that at the time of the Partition of India in 1947, river waters were not divided according to natural principles
Eminent political expert Kuldeep Singh, former Head of the Department of Political Science at Guru Nanak Dev University, has shed light on the long-standing Punjab river waters dispute, linking it to historical decisions, political developments and the concerns of farmers. His recent book “Punjab River Waters Dispute in South Asia: Historical Legacies, Political Competition, and Peasant Interests” is being discussed in academic circles.
Kuldeep Singh said that the issue of militancy in Punjab is often discussed, but its roots can be traced back to the river waters dispute. He pointed out that on December 31, 1981, an agreement was signed by the government led by Indira Gandhi involving three states. This agreement was strongly opposed by the Akali leadership in Punjab, leading to a political agitation that gradually escalated and contributed to unrest in the state.
Explaining the origins of the dispute, he said that at the time of the partition of India in 1947, river waters were not divided according to natural principles. Rivers like the Indus and its tributaries originate in Indian regions such as Kashmir Himachal Pradesh and Tibet and flow into Pakistan, eventually merging at ‘Panjnad’ before reaching the sea. By natural logic, India is the upper riparian and Pakistan the lower riparian and both countries should have jointly managed these waters.
However, political decisions led to an “unnatural” division, giving three rivers to Pakistan and three — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — to India. He further referred to the Indus Waters Treaty signed in 1960, under which India sought to establish full utilisation of its share of waters. He noted that a significant portion of unutilised water from the Ravi and Beas rivers, around 8 million acre-feet (MAF) out of 17 MAF, was allocated to Rajasthan, which remains a major source of conflict.
Discussing riparian law, Kuldeep Singh explained that Rajasthan is not a true riparian state, though a small part of it lies within the Indus basin. This has created a major imbalance, as Rajasthan receives around 8 MAF of water, while Punjab, a major riparian state with a larger share of the basin, gets only about 3.5 MAF. “Such an imbalance naturally leads to disputes,” he said. Highlighting the present situation, he said that Punjab no longer has surplus water. Only during the monsoon season does excess water flow, which is then released downstream.
He added that the current dispute between Punjab and Haryana is limited to about 1.5 MAF. However, Modi-led Central Government claimed that additional water, currently flowing to Pakistan, could be diverted, which is practically very difficult.
Kuldeep Singh emphasised that the core issue remains the allocation of water to Rajasthan. He argued that this share should be reconsidered and returned to Punjab, as water scarcity is deeply affecting the state’s farmers. Alternatively, he suggested that the government must promote farming methods that require less water. He also warned about the overuse of groundwater in Punjab, stating that farmers are increasingly dependent on it, leading to rapid depletion. Without urgent policy intervention and sustainable water management, the crisis is likely to worsen in the coming years.
