Towards Sustainable Water Use in the Indus River Basin: Assessing Groundwater Dynamics, Environmental Flows, associated Controlling Factors and Management Options

Abstract

The dissertation highlights the need to release enough discharge as EFs to conserve ecosystems and found that the Chenab, Ravi, and Sutlej Rivers of IRB are particularly vulnerable to the ecosystem as the estimated EFs were not attained during most of the months and seasons of the year during the study period. These findings underscore the urgent need to take appropriate measures for area-specific groundwater monitoring and for ensuring the release of required EFs for conserving the downstream ecosystems. The varied water allocations within the basin are the main controlling factors for groundwater depletion and attainment of EFs in the basin. The dissertation builds a foundation to consider groundwater depletion and EFs (missing aspects in water allocation treaties) to start and support a discussion on revisiting the Indus Water Treaty-1960 and Water Apportionment Accord-1991. The study contributes to the discussion within the scientific community but is also helpful for stakeholders from water management (water users, water administration) and policymakers to include groundwater depletions and EFs in the water allocations.