India is preparing to halt the flow of surplus water from the Ravi River into Pakistan as the Shahpur Kandi dam project nears completion, marking a major shift in water utilisation in the Indus basin.
Officials said the dam, located near the Punjab–Jammu and Kashmir border, will divert water to drought-prone areas of Kathua and Samba districts instead of allowing it to flow downstream. Authorities stated the project aims to address water scarcity and improve irrigation in the region.
India holds exclusive rights over the Ravi, one of the eastern rivers allocated to it under the Indus Waters Treaty framework. The treaty was placed in abeyance in 2025 after a terror attack in Pahalgam, with New Delhi linking water cooperation to cross-border security concerns.
Pakistan relies heavily on the Indus river system for agriculture, and any reduction in water flow could increase water-supply pressure during the summer months.
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