India has rejected the authority of the Court of Arbitration established under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, deeming it ‘illegal.’ The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated that India does not recognize the court’s authority. The MEA specifically addressed the issuance of a ‘supplemental award’ by the court regarding the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir. India views the formation of this arbitration body as a breach of the Indus Waters Treaty, rendering all its decisions illegal. Therefore, India has rejected the ‘supplemental award’ and all previous pronouncements. Alongside this, India is set to divert water designated for Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty to four Indian states: Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi. The Jal Shakti Ministry is actively working on infrastructure to facilitate this diversion, with the goal of addressing water shortages in these states. This aligns with the Prime Minister’s vision of utilizing Indian water resources for the benefit of the nation.
