Kashmir Conflict and Indus Water Treaty: An Analysis

The state of Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing the control and influence of armed conflict from last three decades. The conflict not only impacted the liberty and security of the people, but there has been a considerable loss in terms of economy. Due to lack of industrial sector, the state is facing with tremendous problem of unemployment. However, tourism and other resources like agriculture, horticulture, and handicraft are the means livelihood to both individuals as well to the state. However, from one decade, all such means are trapped in civic violence. The state is having the capacity to bout against all odds in terms of development through natural resources. The water resources of the J&K State have enormous economic potential that can generate electricity, irrigation to enhance the agriculture, artificial lakes and pounds for healthy growth of tourism. Unfortunately, these rivers water has not been adequately harnessed and utilized because of inadequacy of funds, political instability and lack of the will power from the State. Due to restrictions of Indus Water Treaty 1960, the state of Jammu and Kashmir has been unable to grow to the optimum potential of its agriculture and electricity sectors. However, taking together all these factors have resulted in an economic backwardness of the state. The state produces 20,000 MW of electricity and shares only 12% and rest is taken away. It is noteworthy that scholars argued that Indus Water Treaty is the problem that made Kashmir downtrodden because of being disputed territory, preventing the state of Jammu and Kashmir from utilizing the water’s full potential for hydel power. The main aim of this paper is to examine the impact of Indus Water Treaty in consideration with the nature of conflict within the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Besides that, it would examine, that how state could harness the water resources for the residual benefit of agriculture