- News>
- Asia
Pak braces for int`l arbitration against J&K power project
Islamabad, Nov 07: Pakistan may get the Baghlihar hydropower project on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir being built by India examined by neutral experts as it feels the construction violated the 1960 Indus water treaty between the two countries.
Islamabad, Nov 07: Pakistan may get the Baghlihar hydropower project on the Chenab river in Jammu and Kashmir being built by India examined by neutral experts as it feels the construction violated the 1960 Indus water treaty between the two countries.
A three-member team lead by Pakistan Commissioner of
the permanent Indus Water Commission Jamat Ali Shah, which
visited the project on India's invitation last month,
"expressed complete dissatisfaction" over the project, which
it said would deprive Pakistan of substantial quantity of
water, local daily ‘The Nation’ quoted Pakistan officials as
saying.
"The team has rejected the Indian version that the project was being constructed on the run of the river. The report of the team clearly indicated that India is continuously committing violation of the 1960 water treaty between Pakistan and India," an official told the daily.
The 450 mw project, which was expected to be operational by 2005 would deprive Pakistan of 24-28 days of water in the winter season, he said adding the team concluded that the project has a facility for storage, which caused less release of water to Pakistan.
Pakistan's reservations on the project would shortly be conveyed to India along with the next course of action to be taken by Pakistan, he said adding that Pakistan has an option for calling for neutral observers under the treaty, which was negotiated by the World Bank. If India refused, Pakistan could move to International Court of Justice as a final step.
Bureau Report
"The team has rejected the Indian version that the project was being constructed on the run of the river. The report of the team clearly indicated that India is continuously committing violation of the 1960 water treaty between Pakistan and India," an official told the daily.
The 450 mw project, which was expected to be operational by 2005 would deprive Pakistan of 24-28 days of water in the winter season, he said adding the team concluded that the project has a facility for storage, which caused less release of water to Pakistan.
Pakistan's reservations on the project would shortly be conveyed to India along with the next course of action to be taken by Pakistan, he said adding that Pakistan has an option for calling for neutral observers under the treaty, which was negotiated by the World Bank. If India refused, Pakistan could move to International Court of Justice as a final step.
Bureau Report