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Sutlej River
Context:
Recently, a Supreme Court Judge has expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of Sutlej river, highlighting the impact of climate change and human activities on North India’s rivers recognising climate change as a distinct legal field.
About Sutlej River
- The Sutlej River was known as Zaradros in Ancient Greek and as Shutudri or Shatadru in Sanskrit.
- The Satluj originates in the Rakas lake near Mansarovar.
- It is known as Langqen Zagbo in Tibet/China.
- It is the longest of the five tributaries of the Indus River, giving the Punjab region its name (“Five Rivers”).
- Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Satluj are main tributaries of Indus.
- Course: Flows northwestward and then west-southwestward through Himalayan gorges, crosses Himachal Pradesh, and enters Punjab plain near Nangal, Punjab.
- Journey through Punjab: Continues southwestward and receives the Beas River, and forms India-Pakistan border before entering Pakistan.
- Confluence: Flows in Pakistan to join the Chenab River west of Bahawalpur.
- The combined rivers form Panjnad, linking Five Rivers to Indus.
- Tributaries: The main tributaries Ravi, Beas, Baspa, Spiti, Nogli Khad, and Soan River.
- Major Irrigation Projects: Includes the Bhakra-Nangal Project, the Sirhind Canal, and the Sutlej Valley Project, the latter spanning both India and Pakistan.
- Indus Waters Treaty: Sutlej’s water was a source of dispute between India and Pakistan until 1960.
- The Indus Waters Treaty allocated the Sutlej’s water to India and granted Pakistan exclusive rights to the Indus and its western tributaries.