Two-day talks on water dispute between Pakistan and India begins in New Delhi today (30 May, 2022), during which the Indus Water Treaty will also be discussed. A five-member delegation from Pakistan has arrived in New Delhi for the meeting.

Indus water talks between Pakistan and India begins today in New Delhi

A five-member Pakistani delegation has arrived in India's capital New Delhi for the 118th edition of bilateral talks on the Indus Water Treaty. The high stake meeting is likely to focus on key projects of both countries.

118th meeting over Indus Water Treaty to be held today, Pakistan delegations arrive India

Two-day talks on water dispute between India and Pakistan is underway in New Delhi today (30 May, 2022), during which the Indus Water Treaty will also be discussed. A five-member delegation from Pakistan has arrived in New Delhi for the meeting.

Two-day talks between India and Pakistan over Indus water treaty underway in New Delhi

&nbsp;A five-member delegation of Pakistan approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit New Delhi on Monday, with the two sides likely to discuss key projects as part of the Indus Water Treaty.

During the meeting, both sides would deliberate on the issue of advance flood information and the annual report of the Permanent Commission of Indus Waters (PCIW).

The two sides are also expected to deliberate on 1,000 MW Pakal Dul under Article IX of the Indus Waters Treaty, 48 MW Lower Kalnai and 624 MW Kiru project hydropower projects being built by India on the west flowing rivers.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-pakistan-meeting-on-indus-river-concludes-new-delhi-justifies-developing-hydropower-projects-in-jk-372956">India, Pakistan meeting on Indus river concludes, New Delhi justifies developing hydropower projects in J&amp;K</a>

Pakistan`s Commissioner of Indus Waters Syed Mehr Ali Shah said, "This would be the 118th bilateral meeting at the PCIW level. Earlier, both countries held three-day talks in Islamabad on March 2-4, 2022," The News International reported.

He further said that the Pakistan delegation would not visit any hydropower project being constructed on Pakistan rivers such as Jehlum and Chenab rivers. However, both sides would also hold further talks on some projects which in Pakistan`s viewpoint are not as per the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960.

Watch |&nbsp;India, Pak to hold Indus water talks: Pak delegation will arrive in New Delhi on Monday

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The delegation will come to India through the Wagah border wherein the two countries would hold the PCIW level talks in New Delhi on May 30, and 31 and then will return to Pakistan on June 1.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/shehbaz-sharif-blames-imran-khan-for-pakistans-economic-problems-482786">Shehbaz Sharif blames Imran Khan for Pakistan's economic problems in first public speech</a>

The five member-delegation headed by Pakistan Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah includes Chief Engineer of Punjab Irrigation Department, Director General of Met Office, General Manager of National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK), and Director General of Ministery of Foreign Affairs on India desk (DG MoFA) would leave for New Delhi tomorrow, The News International reported.

Notably, the 116th meeting of the India-Pakistan Permanent Indus Commission was held in New Delhi on 23-24 March 2021.

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A five-member delegation of Pakistan approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit New Delhi on Monday, with the two sides likely to discuss key projects as part of the Indus Water Treaty.

A five-member delegation of Pakistan approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit New Delhi on Monday, with the two sides likely to discuss key projects as part of the Indus Water Treaty. During the meeting, both sides would deliberate on the issue of advance flood information and the annual report of the Permanent Commission of Indus Waters (PCIW). The two sides are also expected to deliberate on 1,000 MW Pakal Dul under Article IX of the Indus Waters Treaty, 48 MW Lower Kalnai and 624 MW Kiru project hydropower projects being built by India on the west flowing rivers. Also read | India, Pakistan meeting on Indus river concludes, New Delhi justifies developing hydropower projects in J&K Pakistan`s Commissioner of Indus Waters Syed Mehr Ali Shah said, "This would be the 118th bilateral meeting at the PCIW level. Earlier, both countries held three-day talks in Islamabad on March 2-4, 2022," The News International reported. He further said that the Pakistan delegation would not visit any hydropower project being constructed on Pakistan rivers such as Jehlum and Chenab rivers. However, both sides would also hold further talks on some projects which in Pakistan`s viewpoint are not as per the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960. Watch | India, Pak to hold Indus water talks: Pak delegation will arrive in New Delhi on Monday The delegation will come to India through the Wagah border wherein the two countries would hold the PCIW level talks in New Delhi on May 30, and 31 and then will return to Pakistan on June 1. Also read | Shehbaz Sharif blames Imran Khan for Pakistan's economic problems in first public speech The five member-delegation headed by Pakistan Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah includes Chief Engineer of Punjab Irrigation Department, Director General of Met Office, General Manager of National Engineering Services Pakistan (NESPAK), and Director General of Ministery of Foreign Affairs on India desk (DG MoFA) would leave for New Delhi tomorrow, The News International reported. Notably, the 116th meeting of the India-Pakistan Permanent Indus Commission was held in New Delhi on 23-24 March 2021. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Pakistan to discuss hydropower projects during talks with India on water issues

The Indian delegation will be led by PK Saxena who will be joined by his advisors from the Central Water Commission, the Central Electricity Authority and the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.

India, Pakistan to hold talks under Indus Water Treaty today

The Indus Water commissioners of India and Pakistan will be meeting on March 23-24 in New Delhi, in the first such talks after more than two-and-half years.

Under the Indus Water Treaty, the commissioners are required to meet annually to discuss issues.&nbsp;The last such meeting happened in Lahore in August 2018.&nbsp;

This month's&nbsp;talks will see both sides sitting with each other for the first time since developments in 2019 such as the Pulwama terror attack and the removal of special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

The Indian side will be led by&nbsp;Indian commissioner for Indus Waters&nbsp;Pradeep Kumar Saxena, while the Pakistan side will be led by Syed Muhammad Meher Ali Shah.&nbsp;There were no talks last year, the first such break since the treaty came into effect in 1960, due to the Covid pandemic. The year is counted from 1st April to 31st March.&nbsp;

Speaking to WION, Saxena said, "We are committed towards full utilisation of India’s rights under the treaty and believe in amicable solution of issues through discussion."

Confirming that Pakistan’s objections to the design of Indian hydropower projects on the Chenab River will be discussed, he said a "resolution will be reached on these issues."

"Both the commissioners will also finalise the programme of tours of the commission on either side as well as schedule of meetings for the forthcoming year," he added.

A number of routine matters will also be discussed, including data sharing.&nbsp;The Indian side has suggested the meeting, with Pakistan agreeing to it.

Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudri has also confirmed the meeting, which is taking place in the backdrop of Indian and Pakistani forces agreeing to observe the 2003 ceasefire pact at the Line of Control.

Under the Indus Water Treaty of 1960, around 3 million acre-feet (MAF)&nbsp; of&nbsp;waters from three eastern rivers - Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi-&nbsp;are allocated to India for unrestricted use while around 135 MAF from three western rivers - Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab- go to Pakistan annually.

The treaty also says that New Delhi has the right to generate hydroelectricity through the run of the river projects on the three western rivers, which is subject to specific criteria for design and operation. Pakistan can&nbsp;raise objections on the design of Indian hydroelectric projects on western rivers. In the past, several issues have been resolved, but either side can also go to neutral experts or courts.&nbsp;

Pakistan, being a lower riparian state, has objected to certain Indian projects on Chenab, which it is expected to raise during the upcoming meeting.&nbsp;

This is the 116th&nbsp;meeting of the Indus Water Commissioners, which alternates between the two countries. Last March, a meeting was scheduled in Delhi, but did not happen due to Covid. India had proposed a virtual meeting in July 2020&nbsp;while Islamabad was keen to hold it at Attari check post, but this also could not happen due to the pandemic.

The Indus Water commissioners of India and Pakistan will be meeting on March 23-24 in New Delhi, in the first such talks after more than two-and-half years. Under the Indus Water Treaty, the commissioners are required to meet annually to discuss issues.

The Indus Water commissioners of India and Pakistan will be meeting on March 23-24 in New Delhi, in the first such talks after more than two-and-half years. Under the Indus Water Treaty, the commissioners are required to meet annually to discuss issues. The last such meeting happened in Lahore in August 2018. This month's talks will see both sides sitting with each other for the first time since developments in 2019 such as the Pulwama terror attack and the removal of special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian side will be led by Indian commissioner for Indus Waters Pradeep Kumar Saxena, while the Pakistan side will be led by Syed Muhammad Meher Ali Shah. There were no talks last year, the first such break since the treaty came into effect in 1960, due to the Covid pandemic. The year is counted from 1st April to 31st March. Speaking to WION, Saxena said, "We are committed towards full utilisation of India’s rights under the treaty and believe in amicable solution of issues through discussion." Confirming that Pakistan’s objections to the design of Indian hydropower projects on the Chenab River will be discussed, he said a "resolution will be reached on these issues." "Both the commissioners will also finalise the programme of tours of the commission on either side as well as schedule of meetings for the forthcoming year," he added. A number of routine matters will also be discussed, including data sharing. The Indian side has suggested the meeting, with Pakistan agreeing to it. Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudri has also confirmed the meeting, which is taking place in the backdrop of Indian and Pakistani forces agreeing to observe the 2003 ceasefire pact at the Line of Control. Under the Indus Water Treaty of 1960, around 3 million acre-feet (MAF) of waters from three eastern rivers - Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi- are allocated to India for unrestricted use while around 135 MAF from three western rivers - Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab- go to Pakistan annually. The treaty also says that New Delhi has the right to generate hydroelectricity through the run of the river projects on the three western rivers, which is subject to specific criteria for design and operation. Pakistan can raise objections on the design of Indian hydroelectric projects on western rivers. In the past, several issues have been resolved, but either side can also go to neutral experts or courts. Pakistan, being a lower riparian state, has objected to certain Indian projects on Chenab, which it is expected to raise during the upcoming meeting. This is the 116th meeting of the Indus Water Commissioners, which alternates between the two countries. Last March, a meeting was scheduled in Delhi, but did not happen due to Covid. India had proposed a virtual meeting in July 2020 while Islamabad was keen to hold it at Attari check post, but this also could not happen due to the pandemic.

India, Pak water commissioners to meet in Delhi after more than two years

The villagers of Hassanabad live in constant fear.

Above them, the vast Shisper glacier dominates the landscape, a&nbsp;river of jagged black ice moving towards them at as much as four meters per day.

Climate change is causing most glaciers worldwide to shrink, but due to a meteorological anomaly, this is one of a few in the Karakoram mountain range in northern <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/there-are-no-takers-for-your-malware-india-blasts-pakistan-at-un-debate-273339">Pakistan</a> that is surging.

This means hundreds of tonnes of ice and debris are pushing down the valley at ten times the normal rate or more, threatening the safety of the people and homes below.

"People's lives, properties, and animals are in danger," warns villager Basir Ali.

Flash floods caused by glacial lakes, ice, and rockfall and a lack of clean and accessible water are all serious risks for those close to its path.

"When a glacial lake bursts there is an enormous amount of not only ice, water and debris that falls through, but also mud and this has devastating effects, it basically destroys everything that comes in its way," said Ignacio Artaza of UNDP Pakistan.

But repercussions of the Shisper glacier surge extend far beyond its path: The mighty Indus River is reliant on seasonal melt for more than half of its flow and changes in Pakistan's ice fields affect this.

That has implications not just for those living in its basin, but for the whole nation, which relies on it for much of its food.

Shifting water levels also have implications for the fragile relationship between nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India.

Already ranked among the planet's most water-stressed nations according to the World Resources Institute, both need the Indus and its tributaries.

Their access to the water is governed by the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, which aims for fair usage.

But there have long been fearing India, which sits upstream, could weaponize the resource, it has threatened more than once to restrict Pakistan's access&nbsp;including just last year.

The Karakoram, which contains some of the world's tallest mountains including K2, is just one of the mountain ranges that criss-cross the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region.

Sometimes called The Third Pole, the region holds more ice than anywhere other than the Arctic or <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/antarctica-bound-plane-disappears-with-38-aboard-chilean-air-force-267324">Antarctica</a>.

But a third of the glaciers here are expected to melt by 2100, endangering the lives of hundreds of millions, according to this year's Hindu Kush-Himalaya Assessment Report.

Rising in Tibet, the Indus crosses through India and Pakistan fed by a multitude of tributaries before it reaches the Arabian Sea.

The waterway's basin produces 90 percent of Pakistan's food, according to the UN, and agriculture is dependent on irrigation from the river, which heavily relies on meltwater from the ice sheets.

With its surging population experts warn the nation faces "absolute water scarcity" by 2025, with the loss of the Himalayan glaciers a key threat.

While scientists cite climate change and topography, it's not clear exactly what causes the Karakoram anomaly where glaciers are surging and in some cases growing.

But many say these changes will also impact the Indus because they alter meltwater patterns, causing flash flooding or water shortages that are difficult to predict and manage.

"The Shisper glacier is increasing its length and width, furthermore it is also moving downhill," explained Shehzad Baig of the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority.

He warned climate change meant there was heavier snowfall during the winters and warmer temperatures in the summers, leading to the ice mass producing more meltwater, swelling the Hunza River, a churning mountain tributary of the Indus.

"This may cause harm to the local community and deprive the people of the Indus basin blocking or disturbing drinking water and irrigation channels," Baig warned, adding that changing weather patterns were also creating more glacial lakes.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/reconstruction-drive-in-rural-nepal-provides-opportunity-for-women-to-come-forward-268758">UNDP</a> estimates that more than 3,000 glacial lakes have been formed in the region, with 33 posing an imminent threat of 'outburst floods', known as GLOFs, that could impact as many as seven million people.

Last year the surging Shisper glacier effectively dammed a meltwater stream from a neighboring glacier creating a large lake. Authorities were forced to issue safety warnings to Hassanabad and local villages before the water was drained.

But satellite data shows the lake is already reforming, leaving residents fearing not only the progression of the crushing ice sheet but that they will be swept to their deaths in flash floods.

"This whole area will be devastated, the whole population and people's properties will go into river," cautions&nbsp;villager Didar Karim.

Professor Andreas Kääb from the University of Oslo says Pakistan must adapt its "monitoring and response strategies, and risk management in general" to contend with both surging and shrinking glaciers.&nbsp;

Authorities, working with the UN, are setting up early warning systems using sensors positioned on top of the Shisper glacier and downstream to alert communities.&nbsp;

But the challenge for Pakistan extends beyond crisis management to the long-term water conservation and storage, experts say.

"Pakistan has to increase its water storage capacity which is now 33 days,&nbsp;it should be at least 100 days to ensure sustainable development," cautions Dr. Ghulam Rasul of the&nbsp;International Center for Integrated Mountain Development.

He estimates that 60 percent of water is currently lost as run-off to the sea.

With few functioning resevoirs the nation is ill-equipped to harness the short-term excess water as climate change causes more glaciers to melt, or from the increasingly erratic monsoon deluges.&nbsp;

And by 2050, with so much of the ice sheets lost scientists say the flow of the Indus will dramatically decrease, leaving Pakistanis more vulnerable than ever.&nbsp;

Rasul says: "Water is the capital of agrarian economies and guarantees food and energy security. Shortage of water against increasing demand could lead to conflict."&nbsp;

The villagers of Hassanabad live in constant fear. Above them, the vast Shisper glacier dominates the landscape, a river of jagged black ice moving towards them at as much as four meters per day.

The villagers of Hassanabad live in constant fear. Above them, the vast Shisper glacier dominates the landscape, a river of jagged black ice moving towards them at as much as four meters per day. Climate change is causing most glaciers worldwide to shrink, but due to a meteorological anomaly, this is one of a few in the Karakoram mountain range in northern Pakistan that is surging. This means hundreds of tonnes of ice and debris are pushing down the valley at ten times the normal rate or more, threatening the safety of the people and homes below. "People's lives, properties, and animals are in danger," warns villager Basir Ali. Flash floods caused by glacial lakes, ice, and rockfall and a lack of clean and accessible water are all serious risks for those close to its path. "When a glacial lake bursts there is an enormous amount of not only ice, water and debris that falls through, but also mud and this has devastating effects, it basically destroys everything that comes in its way," said Ignacio Artaza of UNDP Pakistan. But repercussions of the Shisper glacier surge extend far beyond its path: The mighty Indus River is reliant on seasonal melt for more than half of its flow and changes in Pakistan's ice fields affect this. That has implications not just for those living in its basin, but for the whole nation, which relies on it for much of its food. Shifting water levels also have implications for the fragile relationship between nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India. Already ranked among the planet's most water-stressed nations according to the World Resources Institute, both need the Indus and its tributaries. Their access to the water is governed by the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, which aims for fair usage. But there have long been fearing India, which sits upstream, could weaponize the resource, it has threatened more than once to restrict Pakistan's access including just last year. The Karakoram, which contains some of the world's tallest mountains including K2, is just one of the mountain ranges that criss-cross the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region. Sometimes called The Third Pole, the region holds more ice than anywhere other than the Arctic or Antarctica. But a third of the glaciers here are expected to melt by 2100, endangering the lives of hundreds of millions, according to this year's Hindu Kush-Himalaya Assessment Report. Rising in Tibet, the Indus crosses through India and Pakistan fed by a multitude of tributaries before it reaches the Arabian Sea. The waterway's basin produces 90 percent of Pakistan's food, according to the UN, and agriculture is dependent on irrigation from the river, which heavily relies on meltwater from the ice sheets. With its surging population experts warn the nation faces "absolute water scarcity" by 2025, with the loss of the Himalayan glaciers a key threat. While scientists cite climate change and topography, it's not clear exactly what causes the Karakoram anomaly where glaciers are surging and in some cases growing. But many say these changes will also impact the Indus because they alter meltwater patterns, causing flash flooding or water shortages that are difficult to predict and manage. "The Shisper glacier is increasing its length and width, furthermore it is also moving downhill," explained Shehzad Baig of the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority. He warned climate change meant there was heavier snowfall during the winters and warmer temperatures in the summers, leading to the ice mass producing more meltwater, swelling the Hunza River, a churning mountain tributary of the Indus. "This may cause harm to the local community and deprive the people of the Indus basin blocking or disturbing drinking water and irrigation channels," Baig warned, adding that changing weather patterns were also creating more glacial lakes. The UNDP estimates that more than 3,000 glacial lakes have been formed in the region, with 33 posing an imminent threat of 'outburst floods', known as GLOFs, that could impact as many as seven million people. Last year the surging Shisper glacier effectively dammed a meltwater stream from a neighboring glacier creating a large lake. Authorities were forced to issue safety warnings to Hassanabad and local villages before the water was drained. But satellite data shows the lake is already reforming, leaving residents fearing not only the progression of the crushing ice sheet but that they will be swept to their deaths in flash floods. "This whole area will be devastated, the whole population and people's properties will go into river," cautions villager Didar Karim. Professor Andreas Kääb from the University of Oslo says Pakistan must adapt its "monitoring and response strategies, and risk management in general" to contend with both surging and shrinking glaciers. Authorities, working with the UN, are setting up early warning systems using sensors positioned on top of the Shisper glacier and downstream to alert communities. But the challenge for Pakistan extends beyond crisis management to the long-term water conservation and storage, experts say. "Pakistan has to increase its water storage capacity which is now 33 days, it should be at least 100 days to ensure sustainable development," cautions Dr. Ghulam Rasul of the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development. He estimates that 60 percent of water is currently lost as run-off to the sea. With few functioning resevoirs the nation is ill-equipped to harness the short-term excess water as climate change causes more glaciers to melt, or from the increasingly erratic monsoon deluges. And by 2050, with so much of the ice sheets lost scientists say the flow of the Indus will dramatically decrease, leaving Pakistanis more vulnerable than ever. Rasul says: "Water is the capital of agrarian economies and guarantees food and energy security. Shortage of water against increasing demand could lead to conflict."

Glacier melt at Karakoram mountain range threatens Pakistan's future

IMF team to arrive in Pak today. Indian delegations will also be present. Pak to raise Indus water treaty row with India. Watch this video to know more.

IMF team to arrive in Pak today, Pak to raise Indus water treaty row

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said India is mulling on the prospects of stopping the flow of river water to Pakistan in the backdrop of its "continuous support" to terrorism.

Gadkari, while deterring to stop river water to Pakistan, said India is not bound to follow the Indus water treaty as peaceful relations no longer exist between the two countries.

"Water is going to Pakistan from three rivers; we do not want to stop that. But the basis of the water treaty between India and Pakistan was peaceful relations and friendship, both of which have completely vanished. So we are not bound to follow this treaty," Gadkari told media here on Wednesday.

He went on to say that India is internally examining the matter.

"Pakistan is continuously supporting terrorists. If Pakistan does not stop terrorism, we won't have any other option but to stop river water to Pakistan. So India has started internally studying it. That water will go to Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan," said Gadkari.

A week after the Pulwama terror attack took place in which as many as 40 CRPF personnel were killed, Gadkari had said Pakistan has "destroyed the spirit" of Indus Waters Treaty, and claimed that people were requesting him "not to give even a drop of India's water" to Islamabad.

The Indus Waters Treaty was signed by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and former Pakistan President Ayub Khan in 1960.

As per the Treaty, India has full rights over the waters of 'eastern'&nbsp;rivers--Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. In return, India had to let 'western'&nbsp;rivers-Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum-flow 'unrestricted'&nbsp;to Pakistan.

As per the Treaty, India can use the waters of 'western'&nbsp;rivers as well, but only in a 'non-consumptive'&nbsp;manner. It could use the water for domestic purposes, and even for irrigation and hydropower production, but only in the manner specified in the treaty.&nbsp;

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said India is mulling on the prospects of stopping the flow of river water to Pakistan in the backdrop of its "continuous support" to terrorism.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said India is mulling on the prospects of stopping the flow of river water to Pakistan in the backdrop of its "continuous support" to terrorism. Gadkari, while deterring to stop river water to Pakistan, said India is not bound to follow the Indus water treaty as peaceful relations no longer exist between the two countries. "Water is going to Pakistan from three rivers; we do not want to stop that. But the basis of the water treaty between India and Pakistan was peaceful relations and friendship, both of which have completely vanished. So we are not bound to follow this treaty," Gadkari told media here on Wednesday. He went on to say that India is internally examining the matter. "Pakistan is continuously supporting terrorists. If Pakistan does not stop terrorism, we won't have any other option but to stop river water to Pakistan. So India has started internally studying it. That water will go to Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan," said Gadkari. A week after the Pulwama terror attack took place in which as many as 40 CRPF personnel were killed, Gadkari had said Pakistan has "destroyed the spirit" of Indus Waters Treaty, and claimed that people were requesting him "not to give even a drop of India's water" to Islamabad. The Indus Waters Treaty was signed by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and former Pakistan President Ayub Khan in 1960. As per the Treaty, India has full rights over the waters of 'eastern' rivers--Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej. In return, India had to let 'western' rivers-Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum-flow 'unrestricted' to Pakistan. As per the Treaty, India can use the waters of 'western' rivers as well, but only in a 'non-consumptive' manner. It could use the water for domestic purposes, and even for irrigation and hydropower production, but only in the manner specified in the treaty.

Water will flow to Rajasthan, Punjab not Pakistan if it continues to support terrorism: Nitin Gadkari

The Indian government, in the aftermath of Pulwama, announced its intention to maximise the use of water flowing to Pakistan via the Indus system. As a multipronged strategy, India shifted its focus on the Indus Water Treaty (IWT).&nbsp;

The geographical setting of the Indus river system has facilitated partitioning of the six rivers in equal numbers between the two riparian countries under the 1960 IWT, which was achieved after nine years of intense negotiation under the aegis of the World Bank. &nbsp;

Pakistan, being one the world’s most arid countries, with an average rainfall of less than 240 mm, is quite dependent on Indus waters. Under the Treaty, India was given control over the water flowing in the three 'eastern' rivers of the Indus River System (Beas, Ravi and Sutlej) with the mean flow of 33 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 20 per cent of the annual flow of all Indus Rivers (168 MAF). In contrast, Pakistan was given control over the water flowing from the 2 'western’ rivers (Chenab and Jhelum) with a mean flow of 80 MAF that corresponds to 80 per cent of the annual flow.&nbsp;

Although India has retained the right to use the 'western' rivers on the non-consumptive basis (power generation/industrial consumption/navigation) so as not to affect the volume of water flowing into these rivers, it has done little in effectively addressing the severe water crisis afflicting the Indian portion of the Indus Basin.&nbsp;

Political ecologists and critics of the scarcity discourse have established that social power dynamics shape water issues in the Indus basin, especially when both countries deal with acute drought. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2003, the Jammu &amp; Kashmir state assembly passed an unanimous resolution for the abrogation of the Treaty, which further re-asserted the need for its revision in 2016. &nbsp;

On the face of it, this Treaty is heavily skewed in favour of Pakistan, which enjoys a lion’s share of the water and its utilisation. The treaty has not considered Gujarat – the lowermost riparian area - as part of the Indus river basin, as the Great Rann of Kutch area was disputed territory between the two nations. This was settled in 1968 by sharing the total disputed area in a 9:1 ratio between India and Pakistan.&nbsp;

Since the ratification of the treaty, over the past over 58 years, India and Pakistan have not engaged in any water wars. This is partly due to the fact that India has failed to utilise its share of the waters, allowing unused waters to flow into Pakistan.&nbsp;

Effective and complete utilisation of Indus waters falling in India’s share is the first step towards harvesting the Treaty and this has not been objected to by Pakistan, as evidenced from the February 21, 2019, statement of its Ministry of Water Resources. It is imperative that India should consider active utilisation of the 'western' rivers, albeit for non-consumptive basis.&nbsp;

The formal inauguration of the Kishanganga Hydropower project in J&amp;K in May 2018 is a salutary step in this direction, even though it just marks a beginning.&nbsp;

India has an abundance of small dams and barrages in the Indus basin. Pakistan’s objection to such projects was overruled by the Court of Arbitration under the Treaty, which paves the way for India to install and run several projects on the `western’ rivers, hitherto flowing un-channelled into Pakistan.&nbsp;

These projects will serve as an effective tool in India’s hand to remind Pakistan that India will not hesitate to harness the waters flowing into Pakistan beyond the contours of the Treaty, in the event of a war or war-like situation between the two nations.&nbsp;

Every single dimension of human activity in this basin, whether economic, social, or political, is burdened with a huge handicap arising from the basin’s sovereignty-based, resource-dividing and relentless unilateralism.

India must consider setting up of a dedicated specialised body dealing exclusively with effective utilisation of the rivers under the Treaty. This body may be tasked with the study of the Indus river basins in India, determination of the needs of each state wherein the river basins exist, formulating state-wise projects on the rivers and their basins and time-bound implementation of these projects.&nbsp;

Besides ensuring the development of effective canal systems to ease the perennial water shortages for home consumption and agriculture, the body could also explore the feasibility of channeling excess water from these rivers to other river basins.&nbsp;

This will usher a new phase of infrastructure development and economic growth in this perennially neglected basin.&nbsp;

The two co-riparian neighbours are often at loggerheads over water resources. It is frequently asked whether India or Pakistan can unilaterally abrogate the treaty? The answer is No.&nbsp;

Article 12 of the treaty states that “the provisions of this Treaty, or, the provisions of this Treaty as modified under the provisions of Paragraph (3), shall continue in force until terminated by a duly ratified treaty concluded for that purpose between the two governments.”

The IWT is about sharing of water of six rivers — Indus, Chenab, Jhelum, Beas, Ravi and Sutlej — between India and Pakistan. The importance of the Indus basin to the co-riparian states extends far beyond the immediately tangible material benefits in terms of its waters and any failure to cooperate risks the future of this basin and the future water security of generations to come. &nbsp;

(This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-the-classic-no-win-situation-2728748">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

The Indian government, in the aftermath of Pulwama, announced its intention to maximise the use of water flowing to Pakistan via the Indus system. As a multipronged strategy, India shifted its focus on the Indus Water Treaty (IWT).

The Indian government, in the aftermath of Pulwama, announced its intention to maximise the use of water flowing to Pakistan via the Indus system. As a multipronged strategy, India shifted its focus on the Indus Water Treaty (IWT). The geographical setting of the Indus river system has facilitated partitioning of the six rivers in equal numbers between the two riparian countries under the 1960 IWT, which was achieved after nine years of intense negotiation under the aegis of the World Bank. Pakistan, being one the world’s most arid countries, with an average rainfall of less than 240 mm, is quite dependent on Indus waters. Under the Treaty, India was given control over the water flowing in the three 'eastern' rivers of the Indus River System (Beas, Ravi and Sutlej) with the mean flow of 33 million acre-feet (MAF), which is 20 per cent of the annual flow of all Indus Rivers (168 MAF). In contrast, Pakistan was given control over the water flowing from the 2 'western’ rivers (Chenab and Jhelum) with a mean flow of 80 MAF that corresponds to 80 per cent of the annual flow. Although India has retained the right to use the 'western' rivers on the non-consumptive basis (power generation/industrial consumption/navigation) so as not to affect the volume of water flowing into these rivers, it has done little in effectively addressing the severe water crisis afflicting the Indian portion of the Indus Basin. Political ecologists and critics of the scarcity discourse have established that social power dynamics shape water issues in the Indus basin, especially when both countries deal with acute drought. In 2003, the Jammu & Kashmir state assembly passed an unanimous resolution for the abrogation of the Treaty, which further re-asserted the need for its revision in 2016. On the face of it, this Treaty is heavily skewed in favour of Pakistan, which enjoys a lion’s share of the water and its utilisation. The treaty has not considered Gujarat – the lowermost riparian area - as part of the Indus river basin, as the Great Rann of Kutch area was disputed territory between the two nations. This was settled in 1968 by sharing the total disputed area in a 9:1 ratio between India and Pakistan. Since the ratification of the treaty, over the past over 58 years, India and Pakistan have not engaged in any water wars. This is partly due to the fact that India has failed to utilise its share of the waters, allowing unused waters to flow into Pakistan. Effective and complete utilisation of Indus waters falling in India’s share is the first step towards harvesting the Treaty and this has not been objected to by Pakistan, as evidenced from the February 21, 2019, statement of its Ministry of Water Resources. It is imperative that India should consider active utilisation of the 'western' rivers, albeit for non-consumptive basis. The formal inauguration of the Kishanganga Hydropower project in J&K in May 2018 is a salutary step in this direction, even though it just marks a beginning. India has an abundance of small dams and barrages in the Indus basin. Pakistan’s objection to such projects was overruled by the Court of Arbitration under the Treaty, which paves the way for India to install and run several projects on the `western’ rivers, hitherto flowing un-channelled into Pakistan. These projects will serve as an effective tool in India’s hand to remind Pakistan that India will not hesitate to harness the waters flowing into Pakistan beyond the contours of the Treaty, in the event of a war or war-like situation between the two nations. Every single dimension of human activity in this basin, whether economic, social, or political, is burdened with a huge handicap arising from the basin’s sovereignty-based, resource-dividing and relentless unilateralism. India must consider setting up of a dedicated specialised body dealing exclusively with effective utilisation of the rivers under the Treaty. This body may be tasked with the study of the Indus river basins in India, determination of the needs of each state wherein the river basins exist, formulating state-wise projects on the rivers and their basins and time-bound implementation of these projects. Besides ensuring the development of effective canal systems to ease the perennial water shortages for home consumption and agriculture, the body could also explore the feasibility of channeling excess water from these rivers to other river basins. This will usher a new phase of infrastructure development and economic growth in this perennially neglected basin. The two co-riparian neighbours are often at loggerheads over water resources. It is frequently asked whether India or Pakistan can unilaterally abrogate the treaty? The answer is No. Article 12 of the treaty states that “the provisions of this Treaty, or, the provisions of this Treaty as modified under the provisions of Paragraph (3), shall continue in force until terminated by a duly ratified treaty concluded for that purpose between the two governments.” The IWT is about sharing of water of six rivers — Indus, Chenab, Jhelum, Beas, Ravi and Sutlej — between India and Pakistan. The importance of the Indus basin to the co-riparian states extends far beyond the immediately tangible material benefits in terms of its waters and any failure to cooperate risks the future of this basin and the future water security of generations to come. (This article was originally published on The DNA. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

India must ensure effective and complete utilisation of Indus waters

Slamming Pakistan over cross-border terrorism, Union minister Nitin Gadkari Monday asked what is the point of continuing the Indus Water Treaty if its spirit of mutual love, harmony and cordial relations is not being honoured by the neighbouring country.

Addressing a public meeting here, Gadkari said Pakistan should stop sponsoring terrorists, supporting terror outfits and sending terrorists into India, otherwise, it would have to reel under shortage of water.

Following the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, the Union minister had said India had decided to “stop” the flow of its share of river water to Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty.

Under the Indus Water Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of the three rivers, namely Ravi, Sutlej and Beas (eastern Rivers) averaging around 33 million acre-feet (MAF), were allocated to India for exclusive use.

The waters of western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — averaging to around 135 MAF were allocated to Pakistan except for specified domestic, non-consumptive and agricultural use permitted to India as provided in the treaty.

Gadkari said the spirit behind the water treaty was “mutual love, harmony and cordial relations”.

“There is a limit to our restraint. If cross-border terrorism and the support to terror outfits and terrorists by Pakistan is not stopped, what is the point of the treaty and of giving water to Pakistan,” he said.

Gadkari said that India will divert its share of water to Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan by stopping its flow to Pakistan.

On February 14, a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a bus carrying CRPF personnel in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 40 of them. The Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit claimed responsibility for the attack.

Slamming Pakistan over cross-border terrorism, Union minister Nitin Gadkari Monday asked what is the point of continuing the Indus Water Treaty if its spirit of mutual love, harmony and cordial relations is not being honoured by the neighbouring country.

Slamming Pakistan over cross-border terrorism, Union minister Nitin Gadkari Monday asked what is the point of continuing the Indus Water Treaty if its spirit of mutual love, harmony and cordial relations is not being honoured by the neighbouring country. Addressing a public meeting here, Gadkari said Pakistan should stop sponsoring terrorists, supporting terror outfits and sending terrorists into India, otherwise, it would have to reel under shortage of water. Following the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, the Union minister had said India had decided to “stop” the flow of its share of river water to Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty. Under the Indus Water Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, all the waters of the three rivers, namely Ravi, Sutlej and Beas (eastern Rivers) averaging around 33 million acre-feet (MAF), were allocated to India for exclusive use. The waters of western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — averaging to around 135 MAF were allocated to Pakistan except for specified domestic, non-consumptive and agricultural use permitted to India as provided in the treaty. Gadkari said the spirit behind the water treaty was “mutual love, harmony and cordial relations”. “There is a limit to our restraint. If cross-border terrorism and the support to terror outfits and terrorists by Pakistan is not stopped, what is the point of the treaty and of giving water to Pakistan,” he said. Gadkari said that India will divert its share of water to Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan by stopping its flow to Pakistan. On February 14, a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a bus carrying CRPF personnel in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, killing 40 of them. The Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed terror outfit claimed responsibility for the attack.

Why continue Indus Water Treaty if Pakistan doesn’t honour its spirit: Nitin Gadkari

India is using 95 per cent of waters from three eastern rivers - Ravi, Sutlej and Beas - under the Indus Water Treaty. India on Thursday announced that it will be diverting waters of the three rivers <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-cant-unilaterally-end-indus-water-treaty-islamabad-on-new-delhis-move-to-stop-sharing-water-flow-to-pakistan-198841">to stop its flow to Pakistan</a>.&nbsp;

New Delhi now wants to make sure it utilizes the entire water share of the rivers and is working on three projects to achieve the same - Shahpurkandi project, Ujh multipurpose project and second Ravi Beas link.

33 million acre-feet (MAF) of the three rivers are allocated to India for exclusive use. India has the full right to waters from the three eastern rivers under the Indus Water Treaty signed in 1960 between former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and former Pak President Ayub Khan.&nbsp;

Currently, about 2 MAF of water flows unutilized to Pakistan from river Ravi.&nbsp;

Shahpurkandi project

The Shahpurkandi project will help utilize water from Ranjit Sagar Dam on river Ravi and will help irrigate 37,000 hectares of land in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. It will also help generate 206 MW of power.

It was to be completed by September 2016 but due to a disagreement between Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab government, the project was suspended. On September 8, both the states came to an agreement and the project's construction was resumed.

Ujh multipurpose project

The project is on river Ujh which is a tributary of Ravi river and will create storage of 781 million cubic meters and is expected to irrigate 31,380 ha of Kathua, Hiranagar and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The project was approved in July 2017 at the total cost of Rs 5850 crore.

Second Ravi Beas link below Ujh

The project involves constructing a barrage on Ravi river for diverting water through a tunnel link to Beas basin. This will help India tap excess water flowing to Pakistan from Ravi even after constructing the Ranjit Sagar dam.

India has been able to use 95% of the waters from the three rivers with the help of four dams and three projects. While 4 dams - Bhakra Dam on Satluj, Pong and Pandoh Dam on Beas and Ranjit Sagar dam on Ravi - help India store water, projects such as Beas-Sutlej link, Madhopur-Beas link and Indira Gandhi Nahar project help New Delhi utilise 95% of the water share.

After the Uri attack, Prime minister Narendra Modi had chaired a high-level meeting in which it was decided that New Delhi will be using its full right on the three eastern rivers. PM had said in the meeting, "blood and water cannot flow together".&nbsp;

Pakistan, under the Indus Water Treaty, has the right to three western rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab - whose water average around 135 million acre-feet (MAF). India can use the water from the western rivers for domestic use, non-consumptive use, agricultural use and for the generation of hydroelectric power with certain conditions as provided in the Treaty.

India is using 95 per cent of waters from three eastern rivers - Ravi, Sutlej and Beas - under the Indus Water Treaty. India on Thursday announced that it will be diverting waters of the three rivers to stop its flow to Pakistan.

India is using 95 per cent of waters from three eastern rivers - Ravi, Sutlej and Beas - under the Indus Water Treaty. India on Thursday announced that it will be diverting waters of the three rivers to stop its flow to Pakistan. New Delhi now wants to make sure it utilizes the entire water share of the rivers and is working on three projects to achieve the same - Shahpurkandi project, Ujh multipurpose project and second Ravi Beas link. 33 million acre-feet (MAF) of the three rivers are allocated to India for exclusive use. India has the full right to waters from the three eastern rivers under the Indus Water Treaty signed in 1960 between former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and former Pak President Ayub Khan. Currently, about 2 MAF of water flows unutilized to Pakistan from river Ravi. Shahpurkandi project The Shahpurkandi project will help utilize water from Ranjit Sagar Dam on river Ravi and will help irrigate 37,000 hectares of land in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab. It will also help generate 206 MW of power. It was to be completed by September 2016 but due to a disagreement between Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab government, the project was suspended. On September 8, both the states came to an agreement and the project's construction was resumed. Ujh multipurpose project The project is on river Ujh which is a tributary of Ravi river and will create storage of 781 million cubic meters and is expected to irrigate 31,380 ha of Kathua, Hiranagar and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir. The project was approved in July 2017 at the total cost of Rs 5850 crore. Second Ravi Beas link below Ujh The project involves constructing a barrage on Ravi river for diverting water through a tunnel link to Beas basin. This will help India tap excess water flowing to Pakistan from Ravi even after constructing the Ranjit Sagar dam. India has been able to use 95% of the waters from the three rivers with the help of four dams and three projects. While 4 dams - Bhakra Dam on Satluj, Pong and Pandoh Dam on Beas and Ranjit Sagar dam on Ravi - help India store water, projects such as Beas-Sutlej link, Madhopur-Beas link and Indira Gandhi Nahar project help New Delhi utilise 95% of the water share. After the Uri attack, Prime minister Narendra Modi had chaired a high-level meeting in which it was decided that New Delhi will be using its full right on the three eastern rivers. PM had said in the meeting, "blood and water cannot flow together". Pakistan, under the Indus Water Treaty, has the right to three western rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab - whose water average around 135 million acre-feet (MAF). India can use the water from the western rivers for domestic use, non-consumptive use, agricultural use and for the generation of hydroelectric power with certain conditions as provided in the Treaty.

India uses 95% of water share provided under Indus Water Treaty; aims to utilise full by building 3 projects

Shortly after India decided to stop sharing water with Pakistan, the neighbouring South Asian nation reacted calling New Delhi's move a political one.&nbsp;

Government sources told WION that Pak Indus Water Commissioner has reacted over the report of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-has-decided-to-stop-share-of-water-which-flowed-to-pak-will-divert-water-from-eastern-rivers-and-supply-in-jk-punjab-gadkari-198788">India cutting water supply to Pakistan from its eastern rivers</a>.&nbsp;

Pakistan maintained that according to the Indus Water Treaty, India cannot stop the water flow to Pakistan from the rivers, the amount of which belongs to Pakistan under the treaty, sources informed WION.

"On the western rivers, India cannot intervene under any circumstances. India cannot unilaterally end the Indus Water Treaty,"&nbsp;sources told WION citing Pak Indus Water Commissioner.&nbsp;

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The construction of dam has started at Shahpur- Kandi on Ravi river. Moreover, UJH project will store our share of water for use in J&amp;K and the balance water will flow from 2nd Ravi-BEAS Link to provide water to other basin states.
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) <a href="https://twitter.com/nitin_gadkari/status/1098567046848221186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2019</a></blockquote>
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According to government sources, Pakistan is likely to take up the matter formally with the World Bank, seeking its intervention.&nbsp;

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday announced that the central government had decided to stop sharing water with Pakistan.

"Our government has decided to stop our share of water which used to flow to Pakistan. We will divert water from eastern rivers and supply it to our people in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab," Gadkari said.

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All the above Projects are declared as the National projects.
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) <a href="https://twitter.com/nitin_gadkari/status/1098567049423568896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2019</a></blockquote>
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India has blamed Pakistan for the Pulwama terrorist attack which occurred last week even as the Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM) took responsibility for it.

A water ministry official told WION, "This is not a new decision. Mantriji is simply reiterating what he has always said. He is talking about diverting India's share of Indus water which was going to Pakistan - and he has always been saying this."

India and Pakistan have been trying to arrive at a consensus over the Indus water dispute. Last month, committees from both nations had met to evolve a compromise over the contentious water issue.

In August 2018, during the 115th meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission in Lahore, India and Pakistan agreed to undertake the treaty-mandated tours of the Indus basin on both sides.&nbsp;

The three projects include the Shahpur Kandi dam project, a second Sutlej-Beas link in Punjab and the Ujh Dam project in Jammu and Kashmir.

Under the Indus Waters Treaty, waters flowing in three of Indus tributaries - the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi - have been allotted to India; while the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus waters have been allotted to Pakistan.

Shortly after India decided to stop sharing water with Pakistan, the neighbouring South Asian nation reacted calling New Delhi's move a political one. Government sources told WION that Pak Indus Water Commissioner has reacted over the report of India cutting water supply to Pakistan from its eastern rivers.

Shortly after India decided to stop sharing water with Pakistan, the neighbouring South Asian nation reacted calling New Delhi's move a political one. Government sources told WION that Pak Indus Water Commissioner has reacted over the report of India cutting water supply to Pakistan from its eastern rivers. Pakistan maintained that according to the Indus Water Treaty, India cannot stop the water flow to Pakistan from the rivers, the amount of which belongs to Pakistan under the treaty, sources informed WION. "On the western rivers, India cannot intervene under any circumstances. India cannot unilaterally end the Indus Water Treaty," sources told WION citing Pak Indus Water Commissioner. The construction of dam has started at Shahpur- Kandi on Ravi river. Moreover, UJH project will store our share of water for use in J&K and the balance water will flow from 2nd Ravi-BEAS Link to provide water to other basin states. — Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) February 21, 2019 × According to government sources, Pakistan is likely to take up the matter formally with the World Bank, seeking its intervention. Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday announced that the central government had decided to stop sharing water with Pakistan. "Our government has decided to stop our share of water which used to flow to Pakistan. We will divert water from eastern rivers and supply it to our people in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab," Gadkari said. All the above Projects are declared as the National projects. — Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) February 21, 2019 × India has blamed Pakistan for the Pulwama terrorist attack which occurred last week even as the Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM) took responsibility for it. A water ministry official told WION, "This is not a new decision. Mantriji is simply reiterating what he has always said. He is talking about diverting India's share of Indus water which was going to Pakistan - and he has always been saying this." India and Pakistan have been trying to arrive at a consensus over the Indus water dispute. Last month, committees from both nations had met to evolve a compromise over the contentious water issue. In August 2018, during the 115th meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission in Lahore, India and Pakistan agreed to undertake the treaty-mandated tours of the Indus basin on both sides. The three projects include the Shahpur Kandi dam project, a second Sutlej-Beas link in Punjab and the Ujh Dam project in Jammu and Kashmir. Under the Indus Waters Treaty, waters flowing in three of Indus tributaries - the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi - have been allotted to India; while the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus waters have been allotted to Pakistan.

India can't unilaterally end Indus Water Treaty: Islamabad on New Delhi's move to stop sharing water flow to Pakistan

A Pakistani delegation arrived in India on Sunday to visit the Chenab river basin in Jammu and Kashmir for inspection, as mandated under the Indus Water Treaty, sources said.

Pakistan's Indus Commissioner Syed Mohammad Mehar Ali Shah arrived in Amritsar along with his two advisers, sources said.

"This tour is an obligation imposed on both the countries by the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 between India and Pakistan. Under the treaty, both the commissioners are mandated to inspect sites and works on both the sides of Indus basin in a block of five years," a senior official said.

Since signing of the treaty, a total of 118 such tours on both the sides have been undertaken.

The last tours of the commission in Pakistan and India were held in July 2013 and September 2014, respectively. No tour could be held in the current five years block, which ends in March 2020.

This tour will be followed by a visit of India's Indus Commissioner to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date, the official added.

This tour was originally scheduled in October 2018 but was postponed because of local bodies and panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir.

Under the Indus Water Treaty, waters flowing in three Indus tributaries -- the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi -- have been allotted to India, while the Chenab, the Jhelum and the Indus waters have been allotted to Pakistan.

A Pakistani delegation arrived in India on Sunday to visit the Chenab river basin in Jammu and Kashmir for inspection, as mandated under the Indus Water Treaty, sources said.

A Pakistani delegation arrived in India on Sunday to visit the Chenab river basin in Jammu and Kashmir for inspection, as mandated under the Indus Water Treaty, sources said. Pakistan's Indus Commissioner Syed Mohammad Mehar Ali Shah arrived in Amritsar along with his two advisers, sources said. "This tour is an obligation imposed on both the countries by the Indus Waters Treaty 1960 between India and Pakistan. Under the treaty, both the commissioners are mandated to inspect sites and works on both the sides of Indus basin in a block of five years," a senior official said. Since signing of the treaty, a total of 118 such tours on both the sides have been undertaken. The last tours of the commission in Pakistan and India were held in July 2013 and September 2014, respectively. No tour could be held in the current five years block, which ends in March 2020. This tour will be followed by a visit of India's Indus Commissioner to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date, the official added. This tour was originally scheduled in October 2018 but was postponed because of local bodies and panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir. Under the Indus Water Treaty, waters flowing in three Indus tributaries -- the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi -- have been allotted to India, while the Chenab, the Jhelum and the Indus waters have been allotted to Pakistan.

Pakistan team arrives in India to visit Chenab basin in J&K

A Pakistani delegation, led by its Indus Water Commissioner Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah, is all set to arrive on Sunday for a 5-day visit to visit Chenab basin on the Indian side. The visit is Indus Water Treaty-mandated and will take place from January 27-February 1.

The Pakistani delegation will arrive on Sunday via Wagha border and will be received by officials of Central Water Commission and Punjab government. The delegation will be received by India's commissioner for Indus Water PK Saxena in Delhi later in the day. They will be in Jammu from 28th to 31st January.&nbsp;

The visit was to take place in October of 2018 but was postponed due to local elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

In August 2018, during the 115th meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission in Lahore, India and Pakistan agreed to undertake the treaty-mandated tours of the Indus basin on both sides.&nbsp;

Under Article VIII of the Indus Water Treaty, the Commissioners of both the countries are mandated to undertake a general tour of the rivers in order to ascertain facts connected to various developments and works on the rivers on both sides.&nbsp;

This visit has to happen every five years. So far, no tour could be held in the current five-year block which ends in March 2020.

The development comes when Pakistan has been stopping Indian cargo flights to Afghanistan. Earlier this week, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) targetted an Indian boat off the Gujarat coast leading to the death of an Indian fisherman. India strongly condemned the incident and raised the matter with Islamabad.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

A Pakistani delegation, led by its Indus Water Commissioner Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah, is all set to arrive on Sunday for a 5-day visit to visit Chenab basin on the Indian side.

A Pakistani delegation, led by its Indus Water Commissioner Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah, is all set to arrive on Sunday for a 5-day visit to visit Chenab basin on the Indian side. The visit is Indus Water Treaty-mandated and will take place from January 27-February 1. The Pakistani delegation will arrive on Sunday via Wagha border and will be received by officials of Central Water Commission and Punjab government. The delegation will be received by India's commissioner for Indus Water PK Saxena in Delhi later in the day. They will be in Jammu from 28th to 31st January. The visit was to take place in October of 2018 but was postponed due to local elections in Jammu and Kashmir. In August 2018, during the 115th meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission in Lahore, India and Pakistan agreed to undertake the treaty-mandated tours of the Indus basin on both sides. Under Article VIII of the Indus Water Treaty, the Commissioners of both the countries are mandated to undertake a general tour of the rivers in order to ascertain facts connected to various developments and works on the rivers on both sides. This visit has to happen every five years. So far, no tour could be held in the current five-year block which ends in March 2020. The development comes when Pakistan has been stopping Indian cargo flights to Afghanistan. Earlier this week, Pakistan Maritime Security Agency (PMSA) targetted an Indian boat off the Gujarat coast leading to the death of an Indian fisherman. India strongly condemned the incident and raised the matter with Islamabad.

Indus Water Treaty: Despite ongoing tussle, Pakistan delegation set to arrive in India on Sunday

Pakistan has asked India to immediately share the data showing inflow and discharge of water at the Kishanganga dam in Jammu and Kashmir and sought a date for its inspection, according to a media report.&nbsp;

During the 115th meeting of the Permanent Commission for Indus Waters, India had agreed to allow Pakistan to inspect the projects built on the Jhelum basin, including Kishanganga hydroelectric project.

Islamabad had also agreed to allow New Delhi to carry out inspection of the Kotri barrage over the Indus River.&nbsp;

"We recently asked Indian authorities for Indus waters in writing to give us dates for inspection of the Kishanganga dam as soon as possible. Through the letter, we have also pressed Indian authorities to immediately share the data concerning flows of water at the river and releases/discharges, in/outflows at the dam with us under the relevant provisions of the Indus Water Treaty," Dawn newspaper quoted Pakistan's Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Muhammad Mehr Ali Shah as saying.

"We are receiving water at Jhelum basin in our territory, but to ascertain our need or requirement we need data India is obligated to share with us time to time," he said.&nbsp;

Besides Kishanganga, India had also agreed to let Pakistani experts inspect sites of two hydropower projects 1,000MW Pakal Dul and 48MW Lower Kalnal at Chenab basin by the end of September.

According to the report, Indian authorities had confirmed October 7 to 11 as dates for inspection of the projects by a three-member Pakistani team, headed by the Indus water commissioner. But finally, it postponed the inspection on the pretext of local elections in held Kashmir.

Shah said that Pakistani authorities wanted to have a detailed tour of the Kishanganga project since Pakistan had already raised various objections on its design and construction.

Pakistan has already approached the World Bank, demanding constitution of a seven-member court of arbitration to address its concerns. On the other hand, India wants a neutral expert over the issue.

However in June this year, the World Bank reportedly requested Pakistan to stand down from pursuing its stand of referring to the Kishanganga dam dispute to the court of arbitration and instead accept India's offer of appointing a neutral expert, but Pakistan didn't do so and stuck to its stance to date.&nbsp;

He said that Pakistan had also written a letter to Indian authorities to give dates for inspection of Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnal projects at Chenab basin.&nbsp;

Pakistan has asked India to immediately share the data showing inflow and discharge of water at the Kishanganga dam in Jammu and Kashmir and sought a date for its inspection, according to a media report.

Pakistan has asked India to immediately share the data showing inflow and discharge of water at the Kishanganga dam in Jammu and Kashmir and sought a date for its inspection, according to a media report. During the 115th meeting of the Permanent Commission for Indus Waters, India had agreed to allow Pakistan to inspect the projects built on the Jhelum basin, including Kishanganga hydroelectric project. Islamabad had also agreed to allow New Delhi to carry out inspection of the Kotri barrage over the Indus River. "We recently asked Indian authorities for Indus waters in writing to give us dates for inspection of the Kishanganga dam as soon as possible. Through the letter, we have also pressed Indian authorities to immediately share the data concerning flows of water at the river and releases/discharges, in/outflows at the dam with us under the relevant provisions of the Indus Water Treaty," Dawn newspaper quoted Pakistan's Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Muhammad Mehr Ali Shah as saying. "We are receiving water at Jhelum basin in our territory, but to ascertain our need or requirement we need data India is obligated to share with us time to time," he said. Besides Kishanganga, India had also agreed to let Pakistani experts inspect sites of two hydropower projects 1,000MW Pakal Dul and 48MW Lower Kalnal at Chenab basin by the end of September. According to the report, Indian authorities had confirmed October 7 to 11 as dates for inspection of the projects by a three-member Pakistani team, headed by the Indus water commissioner. But finally, it postponed the inspection on the pretext of local elections in held Kashmir. Shah said that Pakistani authorities wanted to have a detailed tour of the Kishanganga project since Pakistan had already raised various objections on its design and construction. Pakistan has already approached the World Bank, demanding constitution of a seven-member court of arbitration to address its concerns. On the other hand, India wants a neutral expert over the issue. However in June this year, the World Bank reportedly requested Pakistan to stand down from pursuing its stand of referring to the Kishanganga dam dispute to the court of arbitration and instead accept India's offer of appointing a neutral expert, but Pakistan didn't do so and stuck to its stance to date. He said that Pakistan had also written a letter to Indian authorities to give dates for inspection of Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnal projects at Chenab basin.

Pakistan asks India to share data of water inflow and discharge at Kishanganga dam

In a major breakthrough for India, the World Bank has asked Pakistan not to pursue the&nbsp;Kishanganga dam dispute to the International Court of Arbitration (ICA), a Pakistani daily reported.

Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported that the World Bank has told Pakistan to comply with India's to appoint a “neutral expert” to solve the issue.

PM Modi had inaugurated the Kishanganga hydropower project in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) last month with Pakistan officials protesting the Indian prime minister's move. PM Modi had said the project will ensure J&K will not only get free but also sufficient power.&nbsp;

Pakistan had earlier objected to the construction of dam alleging that project affected the flow of water in Neelum river. It led Hague's arbitration court to halt the construction and it ruled that India could divert all the water leaving a small amount for Kishanganga river.&nbsp;

Pakistan considers the construction of the Kishanganga dam as a violation of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. 
&nbsp; 
According to the Pakistan daily, World Bank president Jim Yong Kim advised Pakistan to "withdraw" from its stand and suggested two names to help resolve the dispute.

Pakistan had earlier appointed a four-member delegation to request the World Bank to act as a guarantor in the Kishanganga Dam issue.

Pakistan considers the construction of the Kishanganga dam as a violation of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.

In a major breakthrough for India, the World Bank has asked Pakistan not to pursue the Kishanganga dam dispute to the International Court of Arbitration (ICA), a Pakistani daily reported. Pakistan's Dawn newspaper reported that the World Bank has told Pakistan to comply with India's to appoint a “neutral expert” to solve the issue. PM Modi had inaugurated the Kishanganga hydropower project in Jammu and Kashmir(J&K) last month with Pakistan officials protesting the Indian prime minister's move. PM Modi had said the project will ensure J&K will not only get free but also sufficient power. Pakistan had earlier objected to the construction of dam alleging that project affected the flow of water in Neelum river. It led Hague's arbitration court to halt the construction and it ruled that India could divert all the water leaving a small amount for Kishanganga river. Pakistan considers the construction of the Kishanganga dam as a violation of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. According to the Pakistan daily, World Bank president Jim Yong Kim advised Pakistan to "withdraw" from its stand and suggested two names to help resolve the dispute. Pakistan had earlier appointed a four-member delegation to request the World Bank to act as a guarantor in the Kishanganga Dam issue.

Comply with India, appoint 'neutral expert' to solve Kishanganga dam dispute: World Bank to Pakistan

Pakistan has requested the World Bank to fulfil its obligation to establish a court of arbitration to settle its water dispute with India in the light of the Indus Waters Treaty.

The request came after delegations of India and Pakistan met at the World Bank headquarters in Washington on September 14 and 15 for the second round of talks on Ratle and Kishanganga hydroelectric projects, over which Islamabad has raised objections.

A media report said citing sources that despite the passage of more than a year, the World Bank is not establishing the court of arbitration.

Pakistan has now requested the World Bank to fulfil its duties under the Treaty by empanelling the Court of Arbitration, the paper reported.

Earlier, the secretary-level talks between the two countries ended without any agreement.

&ldquo;While an agreement has not been reached at the conclusion of the meetings, the World Bank will continue to work with both countries to resolve the issues in an amicable manner and in line with the Treaty provisions,&rdquo; the World Bank said in a statement after the talks.

&quot;Both countries and the World Bank appreciated the discussions and reconfirmed their commitment to the preservation of the Treaty,&quot;&nbsp;it said. 
 
The World Bank remains committed to act in good faith and with &quot;complete impartiality and transparency&rdquo; in fulfilling its responsibilities under the Treaty, while continuing to assist the countries, it said in its statement.

The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan with the help of the World Bank, which is also a signatory.

Pakistan had raised objections to India&rsquo;s plans at the Permanent Indus Commission more than a decade ago. When the objections were not addressed, Islamabad approached the World Bank on August 19, 2016 for the court of arbitration as provided in the Indus Waters Treaty, the paper said.

Subsequently, on October 4, 2016, India made a request for appointment of neutral expert to adjudicate in the dispute. The World Bank initially agreed to set up both the fora but later &ldquo;paused&rdquo; the two processes, fearing their separate rulings might conflict with each other.

In an effort to end the impasse, the World Bank invited the water resources secretaries of the two countries for consultations. In the first round in Washington on July 31 and August 1 this year, Pakistan proposed amendments to the designs to make the Indian project treaty compliant.

But in the latest round of the talks in September, India not only refused to accept any of the design amendments proposed by Pakistan but also refused to agree to any of the dispute settlement options suggested by the World Bank, the paper reported. 
&nbsp;

The request came after delegations of India and Pakistan met at the World Bank headquarters in Washington on September 14 and 15 for the second round of talks on Ratle and Kishanganga hydroelectric projects, over which Islamabad has raised objections

Pakistan has requested the World Bank to fulfil its obligation to establish a court of arbitration to settle its water dispute with India in the light of the Indus Waters Treaty. The request came after delegations of India and Pakistan met at the World Bank headquarters in Washington on September 14 and 15 for the second round of talks on Ratle and Kishanganga hydroelectric projects, over which Islamabad has raised objections. A media report said citing sources that despite the passage of more than a year, the World Bank is not establishing the court of arbitration. Pakistan has now requested the World Bank to fulfil its duties under the Treaty by empanelling the Court of Arbitration, the paper reported. Earlier, the secretary-level talks between the two countries ended without any agreement. “While an agreement has not been reached at the conclusion of the meetings, the World Bank will continue to work with both countries to resolve the issues in an amicable manner and in line with the Treaty provisions,” the World Bank said in a statement after the talks. "Both countries and the World Bank appreciated the discussions and reconfirmed their commitment to the preservation of the Treaty," it said. The World Bank remains committed to act in good faith and with "complete impartiality and transparency” in fulfilling its responsibilities under the Treaty, while continuing to assist the countries, it said in its statement. The Indus Waters Treaty was signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan with the help of the World Bank, which is also a signatory. Pakistan had raised objections to India’s plans at the Permanent Indus Commission more than a decade ago. When the objections were not addressed, Islamabad approached the World Bank on August 19, 2016 for the court of arbitration as provided in the Indus Waters Treaty, the paper said. Subsequently, on October 4, 2016, India made a request for appointment of neutral expert to adjudicate in the dispute. The World Bank initially agreed to set up both the fora but later “paused” the two processes, fearing their separate rulings might conflict with each other. In an effort to end the impasse, the World Bank invited the water resources secretaries of the two countries for consultations. In the first round in Washington on July 31 and August 1 this year, Pakistan proposed amendments to the designs to make the Indian project treaty compliant. But in the latest round of the talks in September, India not only refused to accept any of the design amendments proposed by Pakistan but also refused to agree to any of the dispute settlement options suggested by the World Bank, the paper reported.

Indus Water dispute: Pakistan once again requests World Bank to establish court of arbitration

India is allowed to construct hydroelectric power facilities on tributaries of the Jhelum and Chenab rivers with certain restrictions under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), the World Bank has said.

The World Bank&#39;s comments came as officials from India Pakistan concluded the secretary-level talks over the Indus Water Treaty.

Pakistan opposes the construction of the Kishanganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle&nbsp;(850 megawatts) hydroelectric power plants being built by India in Jammu and Kashmir, the global lender said in a fact sheet issued yesterday.

Noting that the two countries disagree over whether the technical design features of the two hydroelectric plants contravene the treaty, the World Bank said the Indus Water Treaty designates these two rivers as well as the Indus as the &quot;Western Rivers&quot; to which Pakistan has an unrestricted use.

&quot;Among other uses,&nbsp;India is permitted to construct hydroelectric power facilities on these rivers subject to constraints specified in annexures to the treaty,&quot; the Bank said in its fact sheet.

It noted that the talks on the technical issues of the IWT took place this week &quot;in a spirit of goodwill and cooperation&quot;.

The parties have agreed to continue discussions and reconvene in September in Washington DC, it said in a separate statement.

In the lengthy fact sheet,&nbsp;the World Bank said Pakistan asked it to facilitate the setting up of a Court of Arbitration to look into its concerns about the designs of the two hydroelectric power projects.

On the other hand, India had asked for the appointment of a neutral expert to look into the issues, contending the concerns Pakistan raised were &quot;technical&quot; ones.

The Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960&nbsp;after nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan with the help of the World Bank, which is also a signatory.

The World Bank&#39;s role in relation to &quot;differences&quot; and &quot;disputes&quot; is limited to the designation of people to fulfil certain roles when requested by either or both of the parties, the fact sheet said.

Earlier, in a letter dated July 25, the World Bank had assured Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Sarna, its &quot;continued neutrality and impartiality in helping the parties to find an&nbsp;amicable way forward.&quot;

The two countries last held talks over the two projects in March this year during the meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) in Pakistan.

Pakistan had approached the World Bank last year, raising concerns over the designs of two hydroelectricity projects located in Jammu and Kashmir.

It had demanded that the World Bank, which is the mediator between the two countries under the 57-year-old water distribution pact, set up a court of arbitration to look into its concerns. 
&nbsp;

The World Bank noted that India and Pakistan disagree over the technical design features of the hydroelectric plants

India is allowed to construct hydroelectric power facilities on tributaries of the Jhelum and Chenab rivers with certain restrictions under the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), the World Bank has said. The World Bank's comments came as officials from India Pakistan concluded the secretary-level talks over the Indus Water Treaty. Pakistan opposes the construction of the Kishanganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts) hydroelectric power plants being built by India in Jammu and Kashmir, the global lender said in a fact sheet issued yesterday. Noting that the two countries disagree over whether the technical design features of the two hydroelectric plants contravene the treaty, the World Bank said the Indus Water Treaty designates these two rivers as well as the Indus as the "Western Rivers" to which Pakistan has an unrestricted use. "Among other uses, India is permitted to construct hydroelectric power facilities on these rivers subject to constraints specified in annexures to the treaty," the Bank said in its fact sheet. It noted that the talks on the technical issues of the IWT took place this week "in a spirit of goodwill and cooperation". The parties have agreed to continue discussions and reconvene in September in Washington DC, it said in a separate statement. In the lengthy fact sheet, the World Bank said Pakistan asked it to facilitate the setting up of a Court of Arbitration to look into its concerns about the designs of the two hydroelectric power projects. On the other hand, India had asked for the appointment of a neutral expert to look into the issues, contending the concerns Pakistan raised were "technical" ones. The Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960 after nine years of negotiations between India and Pakistan with the help of the World Bank, which is also a signatory. The World Bank's role in relation to "differences" and "disputes" is limited to the designation of people to fulfil certain roles when requested by either or both of the parties, the fact sheet said. Earlier, in a letter dated July 25, the World Bank had assured Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Sarna, its "continued neutrality and impartiality in helping the parties to find an amicable way forward." The two countries last held talks over the two projects in March this year during the meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) in Pakistan. Pakistan had approached the World Bank last year, raising concerns over the designs of two hydroelectricity projects located in Jammu and Kashmir. It had demanded that the World Bank, which is the mediator between the two countries under the 57-year-old water distribution pact, set up a court of arbitration to look into its concerns.

Indus Waters Treaty: India gets World Bank nod on Kishanganga project

A World Bank representative on Thursday held talks with officials of External Affairs and Water Resources ministries to resolve the deadlock between India and Pakistan on the Kishenganga and Ratle project in the Indian state of Jammu &amp; Kashmir.

The officials from the two ministries explained India&#39;s position to the World Bank official saying the matter can be resolved through a bilateral mechanism or by the appointment of a neutral expert.&nbsp;

The World Bank representative Ian H Solomon is here as part of World Bank&#39;s efforts to break the deadlock between the two neighbours.

The Indian side, led by Joint Secretary in the MEA, Gopal Baglay, gave a presentation on the two projects and insisted that a neutral expert should go into the issue as Pakistan has raised objections on technical grounds, government sources said.

India has been maintianing that the issue can also be settled bilaterally and sources said the World Bank should not rush in to try and resolve the differences between the two countries.

They said India also maintained that the design of the projects do not violate the Indo-Pak Indus Water Treaty (IWT).

Under the IWT, signed by India and Pakistan in 1960, the World Bank has a specific role of dispute resolution between the two countries.

The World Bank had decided to set up a Court of Arbitration (CoA) to settle the disputes following Pakistan&#39;s demand and also agreed to appoint a neutral expert sought by India.

India had reacted strongly to the decision to appoint the CoA and last month the World Bank announced it would temporarily halt the two simultaneous processes to resolve the differences.

India has been maintaining that it is fully conscious of its international obligations and is ready to engage in further consultations to resolve the differences regarding the two projects.

(PTI)

India has been maintianing that the issue can also be settled bilaterally

A World Bank representative on Thursday held talks with officials of External Affairs and Water Resources ministries to resolve the deadlock between India and Pakistan on the Kishenganga and Ratle project in the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir. The officials from the two ministries explained India's position to the World Bank official saying the matter can be resolved through a bilateral mechanism or by the appointment of a neutral expert. The World Bank representative Ian H Solomon is here as part of World Bank's efforts to break the deadlock between the two neighbours. The Indian side, led by Joint Secretary in the MEA, Gopal Baglay, gave a presentation on the two projects and insisted that a neutral expert should go into the issue as Pakistan has raised objections on technical grounds, government sources said. India has been maintianing that the issue can also be settled bilaterally and sources said the World Bank should not rush in to try and resolve the differences between the two countries. They said India also maintained that the design of the projects do not violate the Indo-Pak Indus Water Treaty (IWT). Under the IWT, signed by India and Pakistan in 1960, the World Bank has a specific role of dispute resolution between the two countries. The World Bank had decided to set up a Court of Arbitration (CoA) to settle the disputes following Pakistan's demand and also agreed to appoint a neutral expert sought by India. India had reacted strongly to the decision to appoint the CoA and last month the World Bank announced it would temporarily halt the two simultaneous processes to resolve the differences. India has been maintaining that it is fully conscious of its international obligations and is ready to engage in further consultations to resolve the differences regarding the two projects. (PTI)

India tells World Bank to let neutral expert resolve Indus deadlock

It is unfortunate that an agrarian distress caused due to a perceived lack of water has led to severe violence and damage in the two south Indian states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Several districts of Karnataka have received deficit rain this year, but this is not the only reason behind the ongoing violence between the two states. The Cauvery water-sharing dispute is almost 100 years old and, unfortunately, all attempts to reach a resolution have failed so far.&nbsp;

To add to the Cauvery dispute, in the aftermath of the Uri attack, the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan has come to the fore. As yet, India has decided to tap its underutilized water share, a step that has agitated Pakistan. Recently, Punjab assembly passed a resolution of not going ahead with the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal (SYLC); Delhi-Haryana have been at loggerheads over increased share of Yamuna water; Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are fighting over Godavari waters. With the coming of dams and irrigation canals that have increased water use exponentially, examples of water-related disputes have become too abundant to ignore.

While in northern parts of India that have glacier-fed perennial rivers, the dispute has been about who will have more water and how much. In peninsular India, however, the disputes are more about basic water sharing.&nbsp;

Former bureaucrat and water policy expert late Ramaswamy Iyer consistently pointed out how water allocation to states and other parties will always be insufficient for some reason or the other; and if the supply cannot be enlarged, states will have to learn to manage their waters within the available amount. After all, the Ganga Water treaty of 1996 between India and Bangladesh, a pretty difficult yet comprehensive arrangement, and the Indus Water Treaty 1960 between India and Pakistan, although lopsided heavily in favour of Pakistan, have survived wars and political uncertainties. So, if India-Bangladesh or India-Pakistan can solve their disputes, why not states within India, Iyer would ask.

The sheer range of institutions existing because of water-sharing agreements or disputes is amazing. We have various River Boards for regulation of inter-state rivers and development of river valleys, such as the Upper Yamuna River Board and the Brahmaputra Board. Many of these are not even always operating successfully. To add to these official bodies, India has several river development authorities and Water Dispute Tribunals. The latter were formed under the Inter-State <a href="http://wrmin.nic.in/forms/list.aspx?lid=366">Water Disputes Act 1956</a> to look into water-sharing conflicts. Such intricate and vast institutional arrangement is not surprising, considering India has 14 major rivers and 44 medium rivers, the majority of these run across two or more states and suffer from water-sharing issues. &nbsp;

Though the water dispute tribunals were formed with the good intention to keep such conflicts outside the purview of political interests, the existing institutional mechanism, however, seems to have not delivered a satisfactory outcome. Political interests have indeed prevailed over water issues. Karnataka has proved to be the classic example of how politicians across party lines come together on regional/state level issues, particularly in cases related to water. Both Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress, the two main political entities in Karnataka, share the same stance. The fact that they expressed solidarity with each other on Mahadayi and Cauvery issues is an apt reminder as to why water disputes should not be politicised.

The Inter-State Water Disputes Act of 1956 clearly defined jurisdiction of each parties involved. Under the &lsquo;Bar of jurisdiction of Supreme Court and other Courts&rsquo;, the Act mentions: &ldquo;Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall have or exercise jurisdiction in respect of any water dispute which may be referred to a Tribunal under this Act.&rdquo;&nbsp;

In almost all cases, however, states have refused to accept the decisions by the Tribunals and, at least one or all parties involved, have gone to the Supreme Court. The moot question is, why at all the Supreme Court should be adjudicating in such matter when there is an equally valid legal arrangement in place for such water disputes?&nbsp;

Some see it as institutional fatigue or as a failure of existing institutions and still other refer to it as vote-bank politics, but the bottom line is there has been no amicable solution via either the Tribunal or the Supreme Court. Therefore, the need of the hour is to leave politics out of the debate and concentrate on environmental issues.&nbsp;

An alternative mechanism, based on environmental thinking, has become paramount to resolve river issues in India.

Inevitably all inter-state water disputes (or for that matter even the trans-border issues) start with and continue to peak in cycles coinciding with a bad monsoon. A weather phenomenon directly affects the farmers more than anyone else. Farmers being the largest stakeholders in any kind of river disputes, it is imperative that farmers be involved in the decision-making process.&nbsp;

&lsquo;Cauvery Family&rsquo; was one such attempt, and it has set an exemplary model wherein farmers and think tank/NGO members from both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu met from 2003 onwards, alternatively in each state with farmers playing the host. The group is keen on taking a pragmatic view of the situation, has helped to overcome information and communication gaps and have also arranged visits to various parts of the Cauvery basin to seek first-hand information about problems and possible solutions.

Dr S Janakarajan, who initiated the &lsquo;Cauvery Family&rsquo; in 2003 says, &ldquo;We worked on arriving at solutions and discussed various aspects. Although no final solution was arrived at, there were two strong models that were likely to happen if the process had continued beyond 2009.&rdquo; &nbsp;

Although no final solution was arrived at, the achievement of the &lsquo;Cauvery Family&rsquo; was that farmers from both sides were involved and there was no violence till the time the meetings continued. After 2009, there have been no meetings as the farmers were simply overwhelmed by the sheer political forces. After the current bout of violence, there have been demands for reviving the &lsquo;Cauvery Family&rsquo;.

Cauvery Family example is relevant for all river disputes. Similar attempts can be, rather should be, tried for all inter-state river disputes. &ldquo;Certainly, the model of Cauvery Family could be tried in other inter-state disputes in India at least to create a good deal and facilitate information flow,&rdquo; says Dr Janakarajan from the Madras Institute of Developmental Studies (MIDS) who is also the President of South Asia Consortium for Interdisciplinary Water Resources Studies in Hyderabad. &nbsp;&nbsp;

With precarious geo-politics at play for such disputes between any two countries or states, it is imperative that there is good will and trust between the two parties only then water negotiations can happen and continue smoothly.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Farmers being the largest stakeholders in any kind of river disputes, they have to be involved in the decision-making process

It is unfortunate that an agrarian distress caused due to a perceived lack of water has led to severe violence and damage in the two south Indian states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Several districts of Karnataka have received deficit rain this year, but this is not the only reason behind the ongoing violence between the two states. The Cauvery water-sharing dispute is almost 100 years old and, unfortunately, all attempts to reach a resolution have failed so far. To add to the Cauvery dispute, in the aftermath of the Uri attack, the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan has come to the fore. As yet, India has decided to tap its underutilized water share, a step that has agitated Pakistan. Recently, Punjab assembly passed a resolution of not going ahead with the Sutlej Yamuna Link Canal (SYLC); Delhi-Haryana have been at loggerheads over increased share of Yamuna water; Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are fighting over Godavari waters. With the coming of dams and irrigation canals that have increased water use exponentially, examples of water-related disputes have become too abundant to ignore. While in northern parts of India that have glacier-fed perennial rivers, the dispute has been about who will have more water and how much. In peninsular India, however, the disputes are more about basic water sharing. Former bureaucrat and water policy expert late Ramaswamy Iyer consistently pointed out how water allocation to states and other parties will always be insufficient for some reason or the other; and if the supply cannot be enlarged, states will have to learn to manage their waters within the available amount. After all, the Ganga Water treaty of 1996 between India and Bangladesh, a pretty difficult yet comprehensive arrangement, and the Indus Water Treaty 1960 between India and Pakistan, although lopsided heavily in favour of Pakistan, have survived wars and political uncertainties. So, if India-Bangladesh or India-Pakistan can solve their disputes, why not states within India, Iyer would ask. The sheer range of institutions existing because of water-sharing agreements or disputes is amazing. We have various River Boards for regulation of inter-state rivers and development of river valleys, such as the Upper Yamuna River Board and the Brahmaputra Board. Many of these are not even always operating successfully. To add to these official bodies, India has several river development authorities and Water Dispute Tribunals. The latter were formed under the Inter-State Water Disputes Act 1956 to look into water-sharing conflicts. Such intricate and vast institutional arrangement is not surprising, considering India has 14 major rivers and 44 medium rivers, the majority of these run across two or more states and suffer from water-sharing issues. Though the water dispute tribunals were formed with the good intention to keep such conflicts outside the purview of political interests, the existing institutional mechanism, however, seems to have not delivered a satisfactory outcome. Political interests have indeed prevailed over water issues. Karnataka has proved to be the classic example of how politicians across party lines come together on regional/state level issues, particularly in cases related to water. Both Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress, the two main political entities in Karnataka, share the same stance. The fact that they expressed solidarity with each other on Mahadayi and Cauvery issues is an apt reminder as to why water disputes should not be politicised. The Inter-State Water Disputes Act of 1956 clearly defined jurisdiction of each parties involved. Under the ‘Bar of jurisdiction of Supreme Court and other Courts’, the Act mentions: “Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law, neither the Supreme Court nor any other court shall have or exercise jurisdiction in respect of any water dispute which may be referred to a Tribunal under this Act.” In almost all cases, however, states have refused to accept the decisions by the Tribunals and, at least one or all parties involved, have gone to the Supreme Court. The moot question is, why at all the Supreme Court should be adjudicating in such matter when there is an equally valid legal arrangement in place for such water disputes? Some see it as institutional fatigue or as a failure of existing institutions and still other refer to it as vote-bank politics, but the bottom line is there has been no amicable solution via either the Tribunal or the Supreme Court. Therefore, the need of the hour is to leave politics out of the debate and concentrate on environmental issues. An alternative mechanism, based on environmental thinking, has become paramount to resolve river issues in India. Inevitably all inter-state water disputes (or for that matter even the trans-border issues) start with and continue to peak in cycles coinciding with a bad monsoon. A weather phenomenon directly affects the farmers more than anyone else. Farmers being the largest stakeholders in any kind of river disputes, it is imperative that farmers be involved in the decision-making process. ‘Cauvery Family’ was one such attempt, and it has set an exemplary model wherein farmers and think tank/NGO members from both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu met from 2003 onwards, alternatively in each state with farmers playing the host. The group is keen on taking a pragmatic view of the situation, has helped to overcome information and communication gaps and have also arranged visits to various parts of the Cauvery basin to seek first-hand information about problems and possible solutions. Dr S Janakarajan, who initiated the ‘Cauvery Family’ in 2003 says, “We worked on arriving at solutions and discussed various aspects. Although no final solution was arrived at, there were two strong models that were likely to happen if the process had continued beyond 2009.” Although no final solution was arrived at, the achievement of the ‘Cauvery Family’ was that farmers from both sides were involved and there was no violence till the time the meetings continued. After 2009, there have been no meetings as the farmers were simply overwhelmed by the sheer political forces. After the current bout of violence, there have been demands for reviving the ‘Cauvery Family’. Cauvery Family example is relevant for all river disputes. Similar attempts can be, rather should be, tried for all inter-state river disputes. “Certainly, the model of Cauvery Family could be tried in other inter-state disputes in India at least to create a good deal and facilitate information flow,” says Dr Janakarajan from the Madras Institute of Developmental Studies (MIDS) who is also the President of South Asia Consortium for Interdisciplinary Water Resources Studies in Hyderabad. With precarious geo-politics at play for such disputes between any two countries or states, it is imperative that there is good will and trust between the two parties only then water negotiations can happen and continue smoothly.

Water disputes plague Indian states: Institutional mechanism has failed to deliver, what now?

The fifty-six-year-old Indus Water Treaty on Thursday cropped up in the current India-Pakistan discourse with India making it clear that &quot;mutual trust and cooperation&quot; was important for such a treaty to work.&nbsp; 
 
The assertion came amid calls in India that government should scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on Pakistan in the wake of the Uri terror attack earlier this week. 
 
&quot;For any such treaty to work, its important that there must be mutual cooperation and trust between both the sides. It cannot be a one-sided affair,&quot; Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said cryptically when asked if the government will rethink on the Treaty given the growing strain between the two countries.&nbsp; 
 
He also noted that the preamble of the Treaty itself said it was based on &quot;goodwill&quot;. 
 
&quot;There are differences between India and Pakistan over implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, which stood for 56 years, but this is an issue which is being addressed bilaterally. But let me make a basic point: eventually any cooperative arrangement requires goodwill and mutual trust on both sides,&quot; he added. 
 
Under the treaty, which was signed by former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and former Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, water of six river - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - were to be shared between the two countries. 
 
Swarup also noted that there were differences over the implementation of the treaty between the two countries. 
 
Pakistan has been complaining of not receiving enough water and gone for international arbitration in couple of cases.&nbsp; 
 
Both sides are required to exchange information related to river flows observed by them and exchange information on agricultural use.&nbsp; 
 
India communicates flood data to Pakistan and information of its storage and hydroelectric projects.&nbsp; 
 
Both sides have Commissioner for Indus Waters who may discuss the questions arising under the Treaty. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

Indian foreign ministry spokesperson emphasised that the preamble of the Indus Water treaty itself says it is based on goodwill

The fifty-six-year-old Indus Water Treaty on Thursday cropped up in the current India-Pakistan discourse with India making it clear that "mutual trust and cooperation" was important for such a treaty to work. The assertion came amid calls in India that government should scrap the water distribution pact to mount pressure on Pakistan in the wake of the Uri terror attack earlier this week. "For any such treaty to work, its important that there must be mutual cooperation and trust between both the sides. It cannot be a one-sided affair," Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said cryptically when asked if the government will rethink on the Treaty given the growing strain between the two countries. He also noted that the preamble of the Treaty itself said it was based on "goodwill". "There are differences between India and Pakistan over implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, which stood for 56 years, but this is an issue which is being addressed bilaterally. But let me make a basic point: eventually any cooperative arrangement requires goodwill and mutual trust on both sides," he added. Under the treaty, which was signed by former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and former Pakistan President Ayub Khan in September 1960, water of six river - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum - were to be shared between the two countries. Swarup also noted that there were differences over the implementation of the treaty between the two countries. Pakistan has been complaining of not receiving enough water and gone for international arbitration in couple of cases. Both sides are required to exchange information related to river flows observed by them and exchange information on agricultural use. India communicates flood data to Pakistan and information of its storage and hydroelectric projects. Both sides have Commissioner for Indus Waters who may discuss the questions arising under the Treaty. (WION with inputs from agencies)

'Mutual trust important for Indus Treaty to work', India says amid calls to scrap pact with Pakistan

India today said it hoped that Pakistan will avail provisions of the bilateral Indus Waters Treaty to amicably resolve matters of mutual concern pertaining to hydro-electric projects and not violate it by rushing to a third forum. 
 
Noting that a Pakistan team led by Water and Power secretary visited India recently, Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the visit was in response to India pointing out that Pakistan was violating provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in rushing to a third forum without attempting to avail Treaty provisions for amicably resolving matters of mutual concern pertaining to two hydro- electric projects. 
&nbsp; 
The two projects are Kishenganga (330 MW on Jhelum tributary) and Ratle (850 MW on Chenab). 
 
&quot;During the talks, both sides stated their views at government level. We hope that the Pakistan side will see reason in our suggestions on the way forward,&quot; he added. 
 
The Indo-Pak meeting came amidst reports that Pakistan has decided to move the Court of Arbitration (CoA) against India for alleged breaches of IWT 1960 by erecting Kishanganga and Ratle Hydropower Projects with objectionable designs. 
 
According to reports, Pakistan fears that if completed, the projects will inflict damage to the water flow to the lower riparian country. 
 
(Reuters)

According to reports, Pakistan fears that if completed, the projects will inflict damage to the water flow to the lower riparian country

India today said it hoped that Pakistan will avail provisions of the bilateral Indus Waters Treaty to amicably resolve matters of mutual concern pertaining to hydro-electric projects and not violate it by rushing to a third forum. Noting that a Pakistan team led by Water and Power secretary visited India recently, Indian external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the visit was in response to India pointing out that Pakistan was violating provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in rushing to a third forum without attempting to avail Treaty provisions for amicably resolving matters of mutual concern pertaining to two hydro- electric projects. The two projects are Kishenganga (330 MW on Jhelum tributary) and Ratle (850 MW on Chenab). "During the talks, both sides stated their views at government level. We hope that the Pakistan side will see reason in our suggestions on the way forward," he added. The Indo-Pak meeting came amidst reports that Pakistan has decided to move the Court of Arbitration (CoA) against India for alleged breaches of IWT 1960 by erecting Kishanganga and Ratle Hydropower Projects with objectionable designs. According to reports, Pakistan fears that if completed, the projects will inflict damage to the water flow to the lower riparian country. (Reuters)

Avail Indus Water Treaty norms to resolve hydro-electric project matter: India tells Pakistan

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