MCQ Detailed View

The Talbul Project (also known as the Tulbul Navigation Project) is a long-standing water dispute between Pakistan and India. It is located on the Jhelum River in Jammu and Kashmir, at the mouth of Wular Lake near Sopore town.

India proposed the project in the 1980s to build a barrage (dam) for navigation and water storage. The main aim was to make the Jhelum River navigable during dry seasons and to regulate water flow for irrigation, drinking, and hydroelectric purposes. The barrage would store around 300,000 acre-feet of water and release it in a controlled way.

Why Pakistan objects: Pakistan argues that the project violates the Indus Waters Treaty (1960), an agreement brokered by the World Bank that divides the use of the Indus River system between the two countries. Under the treaty, the Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus rivers are allocated to Pakistan for unrestricted use, while India is allowed limited non-consumptive use. Pakistan fears that the Talbul Project would give India the ability to control water flow into Pakistan, especially during critical agricultural seasons.

India’s position: India maintains that the Talbul Project is allowed under the treaty because it is for navigation purposes and not for storing water beyond permitted limits. India also argues that the project could benefit both sides by preventing floods in Pakistan and improving water management.

Current status: The project has been suspended since 1987 due to objections from Pakistan. Multiple rounds of talks between the two countries have failed to resolve the dispute, and it remains a sensitive issue in Indo-Pak relations. The Tulbul/Talbul Project is often cited in discussions about water security, diplomacy, and cross-border cooperation in South Asia.

Understanding this dispute is important for competitive exams, as it connects to geography, international relations, and environmental studies.