Jammu: India is preparing to stop the remaining water of River Ravi from flowing into Pakistan after the Shahpur Khandi dam on the Punjab-J&K border becomes operational, marking a long-awaited shift in water use by the river in the eastern Indus basin.J&K Minister Javed Ahmed Rana on Monday said the dam, which is expected to be completed by March 31, is a priority in the drought-prone Kathua and Samba districts. Officials said the project will irrigate around 5,000 hectares of land in Punjab and over 32,173 hectares of land in Kathua and Samba districts of J&K. Approved central assistance of Rs 485.38 crore for irrigation component.
Former Irrigation Minister Taj Mohideen says dam collapsed outside Indus Waters Treaty Because India has exclusive rights over Ravi. Rana added that the suspension of the treaty has accelerated power and dam projects in J&K.The 1960 treaty divided the waters of the Indus system, designating the eastern rivers (Sutlej, Beas, Ravi) to India and the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan. In a major shift in policy, India suspended the treaty in April 2025 following a terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people to pressure Pakistan over cross-border terrorism.The move halts data sharing and opens the door to greater use of western river waters.Rana said that despite demand from Punjab and J&K, a portion of unused Ravi water flows into Pakistan through Madhopur, stressing that the dam would curb this wastage. Projects like Shahpur Kandi are critical to redistribute flows towards household irrigation and away from downstream emissions.The project was first approved in November 2001 but stalled for years due to interstate disputes. After a series of bilateral and central meetings, Punjab and J&K reached an agreement in September 2018. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved its implementation on December 6 that year.Bani MLA Dr Rameshwar Singh said residents have been waiting for years for the construction to be completed. “Once completed, water will no longer flow into Pakistan but will be used to irrigate our own vast areas in Kathua,” he said.
