The Indian Independence Act of 1947 by British Parliament, and the subsequent

British withdrawal from India, left the subcontinent a partition between two
independent states, marred by demarcation problems along their international
boundaries.
Aside from the Punjab Boundary Commission suggestion that the canal-headwork
system be treated as a joint venture proposition rejected by both countries, had not
deliberated water sharing of Indus river basin due to a hasty partition that was
completed in a mere 73 days.
After the Partition, both the nations agreed to a Stand Still Agreement on
December 30th, 1947 freezing the existing water turned systems at the two
headwork of Madhopur (on the Ravi) and Firozepur (on the Sutlej) until March 31 st,
1948.
The Indus Water Treaty was agreed upon by the two countries to resolve the water
crisis. Under the treaty the waters of the eastern rivers (Ravi, Sutlej and Beas) were
exclusively given to India, while the three western rivers were exclusively given to
Pakistan.
A permanent Indus waters commission was constituted to resolve the disputes
between the parties. The treaty sets out the procedure for settlement of the
differences and disputes. It also provides for settlement of disputes through the
International Court of Arbitration.
While The Indus Water Treaty has stood the test of three wars and several near
ones, there have been several alleged violations of it.
The construction of the Bagliahar dam on the river Chenab is cited as one of the
major failings of the treaty by Pakistan.
Despite Pakistans attempts to stop the construction via intervention by neutral
expert bilateral talks, talks with the UN or thru awareness on the international
stage, the lack of effective mediums for dealing with conflict in the treaty lead to
the greatest barrier for solving the dispute.
India gains militarily through these measures as it will be able to limit the mobility
of Pakistani troops and increase their own mobility by drying up the canal system
making crossing into neighbouring territory extremely easy.
The global environment of the world is rapidly changing an the climatic change is
affecting the water levels of the rivers, including the Indus. The Indus is even more
vulnerable than others to this change in climate as it consists 90% of glacial waters.
The main disadvantage of the Indus Water treaty is that it does not guarantee an
enforcement mechanism to ensure that the provisions of the treaty are abided by.
The World Bank is indeed a signatory; however, it denies being a guarantor.

The role of the World Bank, along with other institutions such as the secretary
general of the United Nations involves participation in the selection of three
appointees to the court that must resolve a difference that has been ruled out as a
dispute by the neutral expert.