Jun 4 2025, 10:37 PM, updated 7 months ago
SOS
Sutlej River water flow from China to India drops by 75%
After Pahalgam attack, India decided to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty and halt the flow of water to Pakistan. Amid the ongoing tensions, concerns have emerged regarding the water India receives from China.
Dr V Nityananda has suggested that China may be discreetly obstructing the flow of the Sutlej River into Indian territory. It is important to note that the Indus Waters Treaty governs the distribution of rivers between India and Pakistan.
According to a report by Indian website Business Today, geospatial researcher and former NASA station manager Dr V Nityananda has conducted research using satellite data on the flow of the Sutlej River.
The data indicates a significant decline in the Sutlej River’s water volume within India. This decrease in flow is occurring before the river enters Indian territory from Tibet.
In an explosive statement, Dr V Nityananda has claimed that in past years, the volume of water flowing into India from the Sutlej River has dropped by over 75 percent. The amount of water coming to India through the Sutlej has dipped from 8,000 gigalitres to just 2,000 gigalitres.
Sharing this data, he questioned whether China is deliberately controlling the flow of water into India.
Reportedly, there are two major reasons behind this massive decline in the Sutlej’s flow into India.
First, China may have altered the river’s course. Second, the decrease could be due to natural causes. However, the second possibility appears less likely, as climate data indicates that glaciers in the Himalayas are melting rapidly. In such a case, the river’s flow should be increasing, not decreasing.
In the Yarlung Zangbo (Tsangpo) Gorge in Tibet, China has constructed dams and hydroelectric infrastructure. It is important to note that this the dams have enhanced China’s technical capacity and enabled its control of the flow of water that reaches India.
India and China do not have any formal water-sharing agreement. The data-sharing agreement between the two countries expired in 2023. As a result, China is not obligated to provide India with information regarding the flow of water in the Sutlej River.
There is no public evidence to suggest that China is deliberately reducing the water flow. However, due to China’s increased control and the absence of agreements, India’s concerns have grown.
Bherak: I cut your water, Chyna: I cut your water
Quote
0.0187sec
0.77
5 queries
GZIP Disabled