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http://www.deccanherald.com/content/577342/govt-decides-fast-track-irrigation.html
New Delhi, Oct 23, 2016, (PTI)
Amid growing strain in Indo-Pak ties, government is planning to fast-track four projects in Indus river basin to increase irrigation area in Jammu and Kashmir by nearly 2.05 lakh acres, weeks after India decided to "exploit to the maximum" the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per Indus Water Treaty (IWT).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last month chaired a meeting to review the 56-year-old IWT in the aftermath of the Uri attack, asserting that "blood and water cannot flow together."
Of these four projects, three --Tral Irrigation Project in Pulwama, Prakachik Khows Canal in Kargil and restoration and modernisation of main Ravi Canal in Jammu's Sambha and Kathua-- are expected to be completed by this fiscal. The fourth project of Rajpora Lift Irrigation is planned to be completed by December 2019.
While the first three projects will help irrigate around 1.45 lakh acres of land. The Rajpora Lift Irrigation is expected to help irrigat around 59,305 acres of land.
All these works are expected to cost Rs 117 crore for which money will be raised by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
"Until now, as per the J&K records, seven lakh acres of land is irrigated in the state. This is a very small number. So, the government is trying to complete work on these projects to increase the size of total irrigated area in the state," sources said.
The sources said technically India can irrigate up to 13 lakh acres of land in Jammu and Kashmir. This target, they said, can be achieved when optimum storage capacity is achieved in the state.
"The projects are being developed well within rights of India and in no way will affect flow of water to Pakistan," they said.
Taking a tough stand in the aftermath of Uri attack by Pakistan-based terrorists, the government had on September 27 decided to "exploit to the maximum" water of Pakistan- controlled three Western rivers -- Indus, Chenab and Jhelum -- as per the IWT at the review meeting headed by Modi.
It was also decided to set up an inter-ministerial task forces to go into the details and working of the Treaty with a "sense of urgency" apart from agreeing to review the "unilateral suspension" of 1987 Tulbul navigation project in 2007 by India.
However, sources maintained that the projects were part of government's efforts to irrigate larger swaths across the country by completing small/medium 99 irrigation projects under ambitious Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKYS) and Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) and have nothing to do with the Uri incident and aggression along LoC.
"These (projects) were already worked out. But we do want to bring optimum land under irrigated area as per the deadlines worked out," they said.
Asked if the tense situation in the state, especially after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and ensuing protests, has affected pace of the works, the sources said, "The deadline may vary here and there a little. But the government hopes to complete the project works on time."
The Union Government had launched the PMKYS last year with an aim to enhance physical access to water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on-farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices, etc through major and minor irrigation projects.
The AIBP was launched in 1996-97 to provide central assistance to major/minor irrigation projects in the country with an objective to accelerate implementation of such programmes. Since its inception, 143 projects have been completed under AIBP.
New Delhi, Oct 23, 2016, (PTI)
Amid growing strain in Indo-Pak ties, government is planning to fast-track four projects in Indus river basin to increase irrigation area in Jammu and Kashmir by nearly 2.05 lakh acres, weeks after India decided to "exploit to the maximum" the water of Pakistan-controlled rivers, including Jhelum, as per Indus Water Treaty (IWT).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last month chaired a meeting to review the 56-year-old IWT in the aftermath of the Uri attack, asserting that "blood and water cannot flow together."
Of these four projects, three --Tral Irrigation Project in Pulwama, Prakachik Khows Canal in Kargil and restoration and modernisation of main Ravi Canal in Jammu's Sambha and Kathua-- are expected to be completed by this fiscal. The fourth project of Rajpora Lift Irrigation is planned to be completed by December 2019.
While the first three projects will help irrigate around 1.45 lakh acres of land. The Rajpora Lift Irrigation is expected to help irrigat around 59,305 acres of land.
All these works are expected to cost Rs 117 crore for which money will be raised by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
"Until now, as per the J&K records, seven lakh acres of land is irrigated in the state. This is a very small number. So, the government is trying to complete work on these projects to increase the size of total irrigated area in the state," sources said.
The sources said technically India can irrigate up to 13 lakh acres of land in Jammu and Kashmir. This target, they said, can be achieved when optimum storage capacity is achieved in the state.
"The projects are being developed well within rights of India and in no way will affect flow of water to Pakistan," they said.
Taking a tough stand in the aftermath of Uri attack by Pakistan-based terrorists, the government had on September 27 decided to "exploit to the maximum" water of Pakistan- controlled three Western rivers -- Indus, Chenab and Jhelum -- as per the IWT at the review meeting headed by Modi.
It was also decided to set up an inter-ministerial task forces to go into the details and working of the Treaty with a "sense of urgency" apart from agreeing to review the "unilateral suspension" of 1987 Tulbul navigation project in 2007 by India.
However, sources maintained that the projects were part of government's efforts to irrigate larger swaths across the country by completing small/medium 99 irrigation projects under ambitious Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKYS) and Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) and have nothing to do with the Uri incident and aggression along LoC.
"These (projects) were already worked out. But we do want to bring optimum land under irrigated area as per the deadlines worked out," they said.
Asked if the tense situation in the state, especially after the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and ensuing protests, has affected pace of the works, the sources said, "The deadline may vary here and there a little. But the government hopes to complete the project works on time."
The Union Government had launched the PMKYS last year with an aim to enhance physical access to water on farm and expand cultivable area under assured irrigation, improve on-farm water use efficiency, introduce sustainable water conservation practices, etc through major and minor irrigation projects.
The AIBP was launched in 1996-97 to provide central assistance to major/minor irrigation projects in the country with an objective to accelerate implementation of such programmes. Since its inception, 143 projects have been completed under AIBP.
Kamikaze Pilot
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http://zeenews.india.com/news/india...-decision-on-indus-waters-treaty_1948581.html
New Delhi: India on Thursday night took strong exception to the World Bank's "inexplicable" decision to set up a Court of Arbitration and appoint a Neutral Expert to go into Pakistan's complaint against it over Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
Surprised at the World Bank's decision to appoint a Neutral Expert, as sought by the Indian government and at the same time establish a Court of Arbitration as wanted by Pakistan, India said proceeding with both the steps simultaneously "legally untenable".
"Inexplicably, the World Bank has decided to continue to proceed with these two parallel mechanisms simultaneously. India cannot be party to actions which are not in accordance with the Indus Waters Treaty. The government will examine further options and take steps accordingly," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
Under the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan and also the World Bank in 1960, the World Bank has a specified role in the process of resolution of differences and disputes.
Swarup said on the issue of differences between India and Pakistan on Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects under the Indus Waters Treaty, India had asked the World Bank to appoint a Neutral Expert to resolve the differences of a technical nature which are within the domain of a neutral technical expert.
Pakistan had sought the establishment of a Court of Arbitration, which is normally the logical next step in the process of resolution in the Treaty. The Neutral Expert can also determine that there are issues beyond mere technical differences, he noted.
Pakistan has raised objections over the design of the hydel project in J&K, saying it is not in line with the criteria laid down under the Indus Water Treaty between the two countries.
"The World Bank has decided to proceed with both steps simultaneously. It was pointed by the government to the World Bank that the pursuit of two parallel difference/ dispute resolution mechanisms - appointment of a Neutral Expert and establishment of a Court of Arbitration ? at the same time is legally untenable," Swarup asserted.
Noting that despite India's clear advice not to proceed with both together, the World Bank has decided otherwise, thereby, raising questions over the "viability and workability" of the 56-year-old Treaty.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, November 10, 2016 - 23:40
New Delhi: India on Thursday night took strong exception to the World Bank's "inexplicable" decision to set up a Court of Arbitration and appoint a Neutral Expert to go into Pakistan's complaint against it over Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
Surprised at the World Bank's decision to appoint a Neutral Expert, as sought by the Indian government and at the same time establish a Court of Arbitration as wanted by Pakistan, India said proceeding with both the steps simultaneously "legally untenable".
"Inexplicably, the World Bank has decided to continue to proceed with these two parallel mechanisms simultaneously. India cannot be party to actions which are not in accordance with the Indus Waters Treaty. The government will examine further options and take steps accordingly," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
Under the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan and also the World Bank in 1960, the World Bank has a specified role in the process of resolution of differences and disputes.
Swarup said on the issue of differences between India and Pakistan on Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects under the Indus Waters Treaty, India had asked the World Bank to appoint a Neutral Expert to resolve the differences of a technical nature which are within the domain of a neutral technical expert.
Pakistan had sought the establishment of a Court of Arbitration, which is normally the logical next step in the process of resolution in the Treaty. The Neutral Expert can also determine that there are issues beyond mere technical differences, he noted.
Pakistan has raised objections over the design of the hydel project in J&K, saying it is not in line with the criteria laid down under the Indus Water Treaty between the two countries.
"The World Bank has decided to proceed with both steps simultaneously. It was pointed by the government to the World Bank that the pursuit of two parallel difference/ dispute resolution mechanisms - appointment of a Neutral Expert and establishment of a Court of Arbitration ? at the same time is legally untenable," Swarup asserted.
Noting that despite India's clear advice not to proceed with both together, the World Bank has decided otherwise, thereby, raising questions over the "viability and workability" of the 56-year-old Treaty.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, November 10, 2016 - 23:40
Hindustani78
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The World Bank has “urged” India and Pakistan to agree to mediation on how to proceed in their dispute over two hydropower dam projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
Replying to a strong statement from India that the World Bank, a signatory to the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, was favouring Pakistan by going ahead with an arbitration process, the Bank said it had gone ahead with both countries’ requests.
Conceding that a “draw of lots” was held to appoint three neutral umpires despite India’s objections, a senior World Bank official explained that the decision was a “procedural one.”
“The World Bank Group has a strictly procedural role under the Indus Waters Treaty and the treaty does not allow it to choose whether one procedure [India’s] should take precedence over the other [Pakistan’s]. This is why we drew the lots and proposed potential candidates for the Neutral Expert,” said Senior Vice-President and World Bank Group General Counsel Anne-Marie Leroy.
However, Ms. Leroy admitted that two parallel processes were “unworkable” in the long run, and therefore mediation was required.
The dispute is over the Kishenganga (330 MW) and Ratle (850 MW) hydel plants India is constructing on the Kishenganga and Chenab rivers.
Replying to a strong statement from India that the World Bank, a signatory to the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, was favouring Pakistan by going ahead with an arbitration process, the Bank said it had gone ahead with both countries’ requests.
Conceding that a “draw of lots” was held to appoint three neutral umpires despite India’s objections, a senior World Bank official explained that the decision was a “procedural one.”
“The World Bank Group has a strictly procedural role under the Indus Waters Treaty and the treaty does not allow it to choose whether one procedure [India’s] should take precedence over the other [Pakistan’s]. This is why we drew the lots and proposed potential candidates for the Neutral Expert,” said Senior Vice-President and World Bank Group General Counsel Anne-Marie Leroy.
However, Ms. Leroy admitted that two parallel processes were “unworkable” in the long run, and therefore mediation was required.
The dispute is over the Kishenganga (330 MW) and Ratle (850 MW) hydel plants India is constructing on the Kishenganga and Chenab rivers.
Hindustani78
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http://www.deccanherald.com/content/582654/pakistan-warns-against-use-water.html
In an apparent reference to row over Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan has warned against use of water as an instrument of coercion or war and asserted that international community must remain vigilant to any sign of unwillingness to maintain cooperation on resolving water issues.
"The international community must assume a responsibility to develop, nurture and protect normative frameworks, at multilateral and bilateral levels, to ensure that states remain willing to resolve water issues cooperatively," Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi said in her address to the UN Security Council during an open debate on water, peace and security.
"It must promote bilateral and regional agreements on waterways; and once they are evolved, ensure that they are not undermined through unilateral or coercive measures," Lodhi said as she described the India-Pak Indus Water Treaty of 1960, with the World Bank as guarantor, a model of what can be achieved through bilateral agreements.
"But this Treaty is equally a good case study of what could go wrong if such agreements are not honoured or threatened by one of the state parties to be abrogated altogether.
The international community must remain vigilant to any sign of unwillingness to maintain cooperation and be willing act to avert any conflict," Lodhi said.
In his address, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also mentioned Indus Water Treaty, saying it withstood frequent tensions between India and Pakistan, including wars.
"In the second half of the 20th century, more than 200 water treaties were successfully negotiated. International river agreements have enhanced security and stability in river basins," he said.
"The 1960 Indus Waters agreement between India and Pakistan has famously survived at least two wars and numerous clashes and diplomatic crises," Ban said.
The treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding their use of the rivers, known as the Permanent Indus Commission which includes a commissioner from each of the two countries.
It also sets out a process for resolving so-called "questions", "differences" and "disputes" that may arise between the parties. He said management of more than 200 international rivers and at least that many transboundary aquifers was especially important.
Cautioning that the issue of access to water could exacerbate communal tensions, as in Afghanistan and Peru, he said, that armed conflict resulted in destruction of water supply, as seen in Syria and Gaza.
The United Nations actively promotes mediation and dialogue as effective tools for preventing and resolving disputes over water and natural resources, he added.
The World Bank, a signatory to the Indus Waters Treaty, on November 10 asked India and Pakistan to "agree to mediation" in order to settle on a mechanism for how the Treaty should be used to resolve issues regarding two dams under construction along the Indus river system.
India took a strong exception to the World Bank's "inexplicable" decision to set up a Court of Arbitration and appoint a Neutral Expert to go into Pakistan's complaint against it over Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan had sought the establishment of a Court of Arbitration, which is normally the logical next step in the process of resolution in the Treaty. The Neutral Expert can also determine that there are issues beyond mere technical differences, he noted.
Pakistan has raised objections over the design of the hydel project in J&K, saying it is not in line with the criteria laid down under the Indus Water Treaty between the two countries.
In an apparent reference to row over Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan has warned against use of water as an instrument of coercion or war and asserted that international community must remain vigilant to any sign of unwillingness to maintain cooperation on resolving water issues.
"The international community must assume a responsibility to develop, nurture and protect normative frameworks, at multilateral and bilateral levels, to ensure that states remain willing to resolve water issues cooperatively," Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi said in her address to the UN Security Council during an open debate on water, peace and security.
"It must promote bilateral and regional agreements on waterways; and once they are evolved, ensure that they are not undermined through unilateral or coercive measures," Lodhi said as she described the India-Pak Indus Water Treaty of 1960, with the World Bank as guarantor, a model of what can be achieved through bilateral agreements.
"But this Treaty is equally a good case study of what could go wrong if such agreements are not honoured or threatened by one of the state parties to be abrogated altogether.
The international community must remain vigilant to any sign of unwillingness to maintain cooperation and be willing act to avert any conflict," Lodhi said.
In his address, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also mentioned Indus Water Treaty, saying it withstood frequent tensions between India and Pakistan, including wars.
"In the second half of the 20th century, more than 200 water treaties were successfully negotiated. International river agreements have enhanced security and stability in river basins," he said.
"The 1960 Indus Waters agreement between India and Pakistan has famously survived at least two wars and numerous clashes and diplomatic crises," Ban said.
The treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding their use of the rivers, known as the Permanent Indus Commission which includes a commissioner from each of the two countries.
It also sets out a process for resolving so-called "questions", "differences" and "disputes" that may arise between the parties. He said management of more than 200 international rivers and at least that many transboundary aquifers was especially important.
Cautioning that the issue of access to water could exacerbate communal tensions, as in Afghanistan and Peru, he said, that armed conflict resulted in destruction of water supply, as seen in Syria and Gaza.
The United Nations actively promotes mediation and dialogue as effective tools for preventing and resolving disputes over water and natural resources, he added.
The World Bank, a signatory to the Indus Waters Treaty, on November 10 asked India and Pakistan to "agree to mediation" in order to settle on a mechanism for how the Treaty should be used to resolve issues regarding two dams under construction along the Indus river system.
India took a strong exception to the World Bank's "inexplicable" decision to set up a Court of Arbitration and appoint a Neutral Expert to go into Pakistan's complaint against it over Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan had sought the establishment of a Court of Arbitration, which is normally the logical next step in the process of resolution in the Treaty. The Neutral Expert can also determine that there are issues beyond mere technical differences, he noted.
Pakistan has raised objections over the design of the hydel project in J&K, saying it is not in line with the criteria laid down under the Indus Water Treaty between the two countries.
Hindustani78
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Indian Border Security Force soldiers coming back to their post after patrolling on a boat in Out Post Chenab along the Pargwal area of India-Pakistan International Border on September 26, 2016 in Akhnoor.
First Published: Friday, November 25, 2016 - 13:42
http://zeenews.india.com/news/india...-says-pm-narendra-modi-in-punjab_1953287.html
Bhatinda: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday declared that India has the right to use the water flowing into Pakistan under the Indus Water Treaty.
Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Bhatinda, Modi also reached out to the people of Pakistan and asked them to wage war against poverty, corruption, and black money.
"The water on which India has its right is flowing into Pakistan. I am committed to stop that water and bring it to our farmers in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of India," Modi told a public rally.
Expressing his surprise that the water sharing issue had not been taken up by previous Indian governments, Modi said: "The governments slept in Delhi in the past. Our farmers kept crying and the water kept going to Pakistan. We will fight for the rights of our farmers.”
"The Indus water treaty, Sutlej, Beas, Ravi - the water of all three rivers, over which our farmers have their right, is not available to them. The water of these rivers is the right of India and our farmers. This water is passing through Pakistan into the sea. Neither Pakistan uses it nor our farmers are able to use.”
"I am moving ahead with conviction and have set up a task force on Indus Water Treaty," Modi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also said that the surgical strikes conducted in Azad Kashmir in September wreaked havoc on Pakistan.
"Pakistan is not far from here, look at the valour of our Army jawans when they conducted a surgical strike, it created havoc across the border. Pakistan now knows fully well what the Indian Army is capable of.”
Indus river rises from Mansarovar in Tibet at an elevation of about 5182 m and flows for about 2880 km upto its outfall into the Arabian sea. The length of the river in India is 800.75 km. Its principal tributaries are the Sutlej, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and the Jhelum.
The basin is bounded by the Himalayas on the east, by the Karakoram and Haramosh ranges on the north, by the Sulaiman and Kirthar ranges on the west, and by the Arabian Sea on the south. The Indus River rises from the lofty mountains of Himalayas around Mansarovar Lake in Tibet at an elevation of 5,182 m. The total length of Indus from origin to its outfall in Arabian Sea is 2,880 km, out of which 1,114 km flows through India. Its principal tributaries in India are the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the Beas and the Satluj, all joining from left.
The major part of basin is covered with agricultural land accounting to 35.8% of the total area and 1.85% of the basin is covered by water bodies. The basin spreads over 32 parliamentary constituencies (2009) comprising 13 of Punjab, 7 of Jammu & Kashmir, 4 each of Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, 3 of Rajasthan and 1 of Chandigarh.
Hindustani78
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For the ancient Rig Vedic tribes of India , Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra Rivers are part of thier traditions and culture and all these lands are holy places for Indian nation even now.
Hindustani78
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http://www.deccanherald.com/content/584956/sharif-signs-financial-plan-paks.html
Islamabad, Dec 5, 2016, PTI
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today approved in principle the financing plan of the much-delayed 4500 megawatt Diamer-Basha Dam project on the Indus river in Azad Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) and asked officials to expediate its construction.
Secretary Ministry of Water and Power Mohammad Younus Dagha presented the dam's financial proposal to the prime minister.The dam will be constructed in Gilgit-Baltistan's Diamer district.
Sharif instructed Dagha and the secretary of planning and finance to expedite the completion of the financial process and begin the physical process before the end of next year, Radio Pakistan reported.
The financial plan, made on a self-reliance basis, proposes that construction of the dam will receive a portion of the required funding from allocations made by the Public Sector Development Programme and from resources generated by Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).
The rest of the financing for the dam will be arranged on a commercial basis by the Ministry of Water and Power either through Wapda or through leasing its existing projects.
The construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam has been considerably delayed. It was approved for construction by Council of Common Interests in the year 2009.
The Diamer Basha Dam will provide 8.1 Million Acre-Feet (MAF) of gross storage of which 6.4 MAF will be the live storage and a capacity to produce 4500 MWs of cheap and clean energy.
The storage capacity in the existing dams in Pakistan is fast depleting due to silting and the country is losing on its agricultural production after every few years due to dry season and needs to be overcome by constructing more storages.
The project was delayed and the government of the then President Asif Ali Zardari re-launched it to complete it in 2019. However, again it was delayed due to lack of resources.
It was originally scheduled for completion in 2016, and then 2019, when a decision about its construction was taken by the military government of Gen Pervez Musharraf, but work on the project did not progress at all during his rule.
On October, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had refused to commit funds for USD 14 billion dam project, two years after the World Bank declined to fund the project following Islamabad's refusal to seek an No Objection Certificate from India.
India, which considers any construction in Azad Kashmir as illegal, had earlier lodged protests with Pakistan as well as China and the US to stop funding any infrastructure project on a territory that is being held illegally by the neighbouring country.
Islamabad, Dec 5, 2016, PTI
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today approved in principle the financing plan of the much-delayed 4500 megawatt Diamer-Basha Dam project on the Indus river in Azad Kashmir (Azad Kashmir) and asked officials to expediate its construction.
Secretary Ministry of Water and Power Mohammad Younus Dagha presented the dam's financial proposal to the prime minister.The dam will be constructed in Gilgit-Baltistan's Diamer district.
Sharif instructed Dagha and the secretary of planning and finance to expedite the completion of the financial process and begin the physical process before the end of next year, Radio Pakistan reported.
The financial plan, made on a self-reliance basis, proposes that construction of the dam will receive a portion of the required funding from allocations made by the Public Sector Development Programme and from resources generated by Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda).
The rest of the financing for the dam will be arranged on a commercial basis by the Ministry of Water and Power either through Wapda or through leasing its existing projects.
The construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam has been considerably delayed. It was approved for construction by Council of Common Interests in the year 2009.
The Diamer Basha Dam will provide 8.1 Million Acre-Feet (MAF) of gross storage of which 6.4 MAF will be the live storage and a capacity to produce 4500 MWs of cheap and clean energy.
The storage capacity in the existing dams in Pakistan is fast depleting due to silting and the country is losing on its agricultural production after every few years due to dry season and needs to be overcome by constructing more storages.
The project was delayed and the government of the then President Asif Ali Zardari re-launched it to complete it in 2019. However, again it was delayed due to lack of resources.
It was originally scheduled for completion in 2016, and then 2019, when a decision about its construction was taken by the military government of Gen Pervez Musharraf, but work on the project did not progress at all during his rule.
On October, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had refused to commit funds for USD 14 billion dam project, two years after the World Bank declined to fund the project following Islamabad's refusal to seek an No Objection Certificate from India.
India, which considers any construction in Azad Kashmir as illegal, had earlier lodged protests with Pakistan as well as China and the US to stop funding any infrastructure project on a territory that is being held illegally by the neighbouring country.
Hindustani78
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Updated: Dec 12, 2016 17:56 IST Brahma Chellaney
http://www.hindustantimes.com/opini...-negligence/story-uYdh6oUFaLa59IY5AfL4kL.html
The linkages between water stress, sharing disputes and environmental degradation threaten to trap Asia in a vicious cycle. In a continent where China’s unilateralism stands out as a destabilising factor, only four of the 57 transnational river basins have a treaty on water sharing or institutionalised cooperation. Indeed, the only Asian treaties incorporating specific sharing formulas are between India and its downriver neighbours, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
When Pakistan was carved out of India as the first Islamic republic of the post-colonial era, the Partition left the Indus headwaters in India, arming it with formidable water leverage over the newly-created country. Yet India ultimately agreed under World Bank and US pressure in 1960 to what still ranks as the world’s most generous (and lopsided) water-sharing pact.
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) reserved for Pakistan the largest three rivers that make up more than four-fifths of the Indus-system waters, leaving for India just 19.48% of the total waters. After gifting the lion’s share of the waters to the congenitally hostile Pakistan, India also contributed $173.63 million for dam and other projects there. The Great Water Folly — one of the major strategic problems bequeathed to future Indian generations by the Nehruvian era — began exacting serious costs within a few years.
Far from mollifying an implacable foe, the IWT whetted Pakistan’s territorial revisionism, prompting its 1965 military attack on India’s Jammu and Kashmir. The attack was aimed at gaining political control of the land through which the three largest rivers reserved for Pakistani use flowed, although only one of them originates in J&K. The 1965 attack was essentially a water war.
India’s naïve assumption that it traded water munificence for peace in 1960 has backfired, saddling it with an iniquitous treaty of indefinite duration and keeping water as a core issue in its relations with Pakistan. As for Pakistan, after failing to achieve its water designs militarily in 1965, it has continued to wage a water war against India by other means, including diplomacy and terrorism. Put simply, 56 years after the IWT was signed, Pakistan’s covetous, water-driven claim to India’s J&K remains intact.
Pakistan has cleverly employed the IWT to have its cake and eat it too. While receiving the largest quantum of waters reserved by any treaty for a downstream State, it uses the IWT to sustain its conflict and tensions with India. Worse still, this scofflaw nation repays the upper riparian’s unparalleled water largesse with blood by waging an undeclared, terrorism-centred war, with the Nagrota attack the latest example.
Thanks to a partisan World Bank, Pakistan has recently succeeded — for the second time in this decade — in initiating international arbitral proceedings against India. Seeking international intercession is part of Pakistan’s ‘water war’ strategy against India, yet it is the World Bank’s ugly role in the latest instance that sticks out. This should surprise few.
After all, it was the World Bank’s murky role that spawned the inherently unequal IWT. Whereas the British colonial government was the instrument in India’s 1947 land partition, the Bank served as the agent to partition the Indus-system rivers, floating the river-partitioning proposal and ramming it down India’s throat. India’s full sovereignty rights were limited to the smallest three of the six rivers, with the Bank uniquely signing a binational treaty as its guarantor.
Since then, World Bank support enabled Pakistan not only to complete mega-dams but also to sustain its ‘water war’ strategy against India by invoking international intercession repeatedly. Now, in response to Pakistan’s complaint over two midsized Indian hydropower projects, the World Bank has initiated two concurrent processes that mock the IWT’s provisions for resolving any ‘questions’, ‘differences’ or ‘disputes’ between the parties: It is appointing both a court of arbitration (as sought by Pakistan) and a neutral expert (as suggested by India), while admitting that “pursuing two concurrent processes under the treaty could make it unworkable over time”.
India says it “cannot be party to actions” by the World Bank that breach the IWT’s terms, implying that it might not accept the arbitral tribunal. India’s bark, however, has always been worse than its bite. While protesting the Bank’s “legally untenable” move in the latest case, India has shown little inclination to respond through punitive counter-measures.
Had China been in India’s place, it would have sought to discipline the Bank and Pakistan. Indeed, it is unthinkable that China would have countenanced such an egregiously inequitable treaty. While mouthing empty rhetoric, India still allows Pakistan to draw the IWT’s full benefits even as Pakistan bleeds it by exporting terrorists.
The truth is this: The IWT symbolises India’s enduring strategic naiveté and negligence. Despite water shortages triggering bitter feuds between Punjab and some other states, India has failed to tap even the allocated 19.48% share of the Indus Basin resources.
For example, the waters of the three India-earmarked rivers not utilised by India aggregate to 10.37 billion cubic metres (BCM) yearly according to Pakistan, and 11.1 BCM according to the UN. These bonus outflows to Pakistan alone amount to six times Mexico’s total water share under its treaty with the US, and are many times greater than the total volumes spelled out in the Israel-Jordan water arrangements. Although the IWT permits India to store 4.4 BCM of waters from the Pakistan-reserved rivers, a careless India has built no storage. And despite the treaty allowing India to build hydropower plants with no dam reservoir, its total installed generating capacity in J&K currently does not equal the size of a single new dam in Pakistan like the 4,500-megawatt Diamer-Bhasha, whose financing for construction was approved last week.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/opini...-negligence/story-uYdh6oUFaLa59IY5AfL4kL.html
The linkages between water stress, sharing disputes and environmental degradation threaten to trap Asia in a vicious cycle. In a continent where China’s unilateralism stands out as a destabilising factor, only four of the 57 transnational river basins have a treaty on water sharing or institutionalised cooperation. Indeed, the only Asian treaties incorporating specific sharing formulas are between India and its downriver neighbours, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
When Pakistan was carved out of India as the first Islamic republic of the post-colonial era, the Partition left the Indus headwaters in India, arming it with formidable water leverage over the newly-created country. Yet India ultimately agreed under World Bank and US pressure in 1960 to what still ranks as the world’s most generous (and lopsided) water-sharing pact.
The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) reserved for Pakistan the largest three rivers that make up more than four-fifths of the Indus-system waters, leaving for India just 19.48% of the total waters. After gifting the lion’s share of the waters to the congenitally hostile Pakistan, India also contributed $173.63 million for dam and other projects there. The Great Water Folly — one of the major strategic problems bequeathed to future Indian generations by the Nehruvian era — began exacting serious costs within a few years.
Far from mollifying an implacable foe, the IWT whetted Pakistan’s territorial revisionism, prompting its 1965 military attack on India’s Jammu and Kashmir. The attack was aimed at gaining political control of the land through which the three largest rivers reserved for Pakistani use flowed, although only one of them originates in J&K. The 1965 attack was essentially a water war.
India’s naïve assumption that it traded water munificence for peace in 1960 has backfired, saddling it with an iniquitous treaty of indefinite duration and keeping water as a core issue in its relations with Pakistan. As for Pakistan, after failing to achieve its water designs militarily in 1965, it has continued to wage a water war against India by other means, including diplomacy and terrorism. Put simply, 56 years after the IWT was signed, Pakistan’s covetous, water-driven claim to India’s J&K remains intact.
Pakistan has cleverly employed the IWT to have its cake and eat it too. While receiving the largest quantum of waters reserved by any treaty for a downstream State, it uses the IWT to sustain its conflict and tensions with India. Worse still, this scofflaw nation repays the upper riparian’s unparalleled water largesse with blood by waging an undeclared, terrorism-centred war, with the Nagrota attack the latest example.
Thanks to a partisan World Bank, Pakistan has recently succeeded — for the second time in this decade — in initiating international arbitral proceedings against India. Seeking international intercession is part of Pakistan’s ‘water war’ strategy against India, yet it is the World Bank’s ugly role in the latest instance that sticks out. This should surprise few.
After all, it was the World Bank’s murky role that spawned the inherently unequal IWT. Whereas the British colonial government was the instrument in India’s 1947 land partition, the Bank served as the agent to partition the Indus-system rivers, floating the river-partitioning proposal and ramming it down India’s throat. India’s full sovereignty rights were limited to the smallest three of the six rivers, with the Bank uniquely signing a binational treaty as its guarantor.
Since then, World Bank support enabled Pakistan not only to complete mega-dams but also to sustain its ‘water war’ strategy against India by invoking international intercession repeatedly. Now, in response to Pakistan’s complaint over two midsized Indian hydropower projects, the World Bank has initiated two concurrent processes that mock the IWT’s provisions for resolving any ‘questions’, ‘differences’ or ‘disputes’ between the parties: It is appointing both a court of arbitration (as sought by Pakistan) and a neutral expert (as suggested by India), while admitting that “pursuing two concurrent processes under the treaty could make it unworkable over time”.
India says it “cannot be party to actions” by the World Bank that breach the IWT’s terms, implying that it might not accept the arbitral tribunal. India’s bark, however, has always been worse than its bite. While protesting the Bank’s “legally untenable” move in the latest case, India has shown little inclination to respond through punitive counter-measures.
Had China been in India’s place, it would have sought to discipline the Bank and Pakistan. Indeed, it is unthinkable that China would have countenanced such an egregiously inequitable treaty. While mouthing empty rhetoric, India still allows Pakistan to draw the IWT’s full benefits even as Pakistan bleeds it by exporting terrorists.
The truth is this: The IWT symbolises India’s enduring strategic naiveté and negligence. Despite water shortages triggering bitter feuds between Punjab and some other states, India has failed to tap even the allocated 19.48% share of the Indus Basin resources.
For example, the waters of the three India-earmarked rivers not utilised by India aggregate to 10.37 billion cubic metres (BCM) yearly according to Pakistan, and 11.1 BCM according to the UN. These bonus outflows to Pakistan alone amount to six times Mexico’s total water share under its treaty with the US, and are many times greater than the total volumes spelled out in the Israel-Jordan water arrangements. Although the IWT permits India to store 4.4 BCM of waters from the Pakistan-reserved rivers, a careless India has built no storage. And despite the treaty allowing India to build hydropower plants with no dam reservoir, its total installed generating capacity in J&K currently does not equal the size of a single new dam in Pakistan like the 4,500-megawatt Diamer-Bhasha, whose financing for construction was approved last week.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairing a meeting on Indus Water Treaty in New Delhi in September 2016. (PTI File )
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...-says-india/story-5GwSKVGSzYPoN0EQDT5wGP.html
India on Thursday pitched for sorting differences with Pakistan bilaterally, a day after the World Bank announced pausing of the two separate processes to look into disputes on the Kishenganga and Ratle projects.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that given the will, there was no reason why the technical design parameters on which Pakistan raised objections cannot be sorted out by experts from both sides on projects like Kishenganga.
India had advised the World Bank, which is a party to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), not to rush for initiating two parallel processes simultaneously and hold more consultations, he said.
India has always believed that the implementation of the IWT, which includes redressal of technical questions and differences, should be done bilaterally, Swarup said.
“There are examples available where such matters had been successfully resolved bilaterally within the Permanent Indus Commission (such as the height of the freeboard for Kishanganga) or between the two governments as seen in the Salal Hydro Electric Project in 1978.
“Given the will to address these matters through appropriate mechanisms provided for in the Indus Waters Treaty, there is no reason why the technical design parameters on which Pakistan has raised objections cannot be sorted out by professional, technical experts from both sides,” he said.
India believes that these consultations should be given adequate time.
“It is a matter of satisfaction that this point has now been recognised by the World Bank. We believe that these consultations should be given adequate time,” the spokesperson said.
World Bank had announced pausing of the two separate processes initiated under the IWT to allow the two countries to consider alternative ways to resolve their disagreements.
The development also comes in the backdrop of India recently reviewing the IWT and deciding to fully utilise its share water of rivers as per its rights under the pact.
Under the IWT, which covers the water distribution and sharing rights of six rivers — Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum — the World Bank has a specified role in the resolution of differences and disputes.
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http://indianexpress.com/article/in...vel-task-force-on-indus-water-treaty-4432315/
Government has formed an inter-ministerial task force, to be headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Principal Secretary Nripendra Mishra, to look into all the strategic aspects of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan. A formal notification to this effect was issued on Friday, a top government functionary said on Saturday, adding other members of the team include NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Secretaries in ministries of Finance, Environment, Power and Water Resource.
Besides, Chief Secretaries of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, the states from where the six Indus system rivers flow, will be “invitees” in the task force. “The task force is mandated with taking all important strategic and policy decisions. It is an all-powerful body which will take decisions regarding the treaty,” he added. The committee has been formed nearly three months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting on the 56-year-old water distribution pact with Pakistan in the aftermath of series of cross-border terror strikes including Uri attack.
In that meeting, it was also decided that India would exploit to the maximum water of Pakistan-controlled rivers including Jhelum. Meanwhile, a source said the World Bank, which has paused two separate mechanisms, will send an expert to discuss with both India and Pakistan their versions on designs of Kishenganga and Ratle projects being constructed by India in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan had in September approached World Bank, flagging concerns that the design of the Kishenganga project was not in line with the criteria laid down under IWT. It had then demanded the international lender to set up a Court of Arbitration to look into the matter. Refuting the claims made by Pakistan, India had asserted that the project design is “well within parameters” of the treaty and urged the World Bank to appoint a neutral expert as the issue is a “technical matter” as suggested in the treaty.
Under the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 and to which the World Bank is also a party, the global body has a specified role in the process of resolution of differences and disputes.
Government has formed an inter-ministerial task force, to be headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Principal Secretary Nripendra Mishra, to look into all the strategic aspects of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan. A formal notification to this effect was issued on Friday, a top government functionary said on Saturday, adding other members of the team include NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Secretaries in ministries of Finance, Environment, Power and Water Resource.
Besides, Chief Secretaries of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, the states from where the six Indus system rivers flow, will be “invitees” in the task force. “The task force is mandated with taking all important strategic and policy decisions. It is an all-powerful body which will take decisions regarding the treaty,” he added. The committee has been formed nearly three months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting on the 56-year-old water distribution pact with Pakistan in the aftermath of series of cross-border terror strikes including Uri attack.
In that meeting, it was also decided that India would exploit to the maximum water of Pakistan-controlled rivers including Jhelum. Meanwhile, a source said the World Bank, which has paused two separate mechanisms, will send an expert to discuss with both India and Pakistan their versions on designs of Kishenganga and Ratle projects being constructed by India in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan had in September approached World Bank, flagging concerns that the design of the Kishenganga project was not in line with the criteria laid down under IWT. It had then demanded the international lender to set up a Court of Arbitration to look into the matter. Refuting the claims made by Pakistan, India had asserted that the project design is “well within parameters” of the treaty and urged the World Bank to appoint a neutral expert as the issue is a “technical matter” as suggested in the treaty.
Under the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 and to which the World Bank is also a party, the global body has a specified role in the process of resolution of differences and disputes.
Hindustani78
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http://www.thehindu.com/news/nation...dus-treaty-says-Professor/article16897197.ece
SRINAGAR December 18, 2016 07:50 IST
Updated: December 18, 2016 09:20 IST
As India and Pakistan continue to exchange barbs over the 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty (IWT), Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, an ecological engineering and climatology expert, says both countries “nurse many myths” around the treaty.
While Pakistan keeps complaining about a “deliberate slowdown of discharge” from the Jhelum, Indus and Chenab rivers in Jammu & Kashmir, Professor Romshoo, Head of the Earth Sciences Department at Kashmir University, attributes it to climate change and a fast-changing discharge pattern. “India is not stealing waters as Pakistan tends to believe. Pakistan is right about water discharge coming down but the reason lies somewhere else — it is the melting of glaciers and global warming,” Mr. Romshoo told The Hindu.
Post-1995 fall in discharge
He said that from the 1960s to 1995, water discharge had steadily increased by around 30 per cent, leading up to the highest estimate of 159 million acre feet (one acre foot is enough water to cover an acre of land one foot deep) in the three rivers. “After 1995, water discharge started coming down to 117 million acre feet. This worried Pakistan, but the fact remains that it continues to get sufficient water as per the treaty,” Mr. Romshoo said.
Against the beliefs in Pakistan of a significant decrease in supply, Mr. Romshoo said India could still retain 10 million acre feet, which could irrigate large tracts of around seven lakh hectares in the State. “The fact is that water remains under-utilised in J&K. The State has no resources to fund major hydroprojects,” he added.
Of late, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has evolved a fresh narrative around the treaty, describing it as “discriminatory” and planning “to retain waters of six rivers”, including three in Punjab, within India only.
‘It’s impossible’
“One has to be a country like North Korea to think of stopping water flow into Pakistan. It’s impossible. For example, the Kashmir Valley is a flat land and stopping the Jhelum means flooding the land. Even connecting the J&K’s three rivers is almost next to impossible and may incur incalculable costs,” Mr. Romshoo said.
Describing the IWT as the “best treaty” for the two countries, Mr. Romshoo warned against scrapping it. “It’s difficult to scrap the treaty unless an alternative treaty is in place. This kind of treaty is not unique to India and Pakistan. Europe has the Helsinki Rules on the Uses of the Waters of International Rivers, where riparian rights are shared between States.”
“Two, scrapping the treaty means fuelling anger in 95 per cent of the population of Pakistan, whose water needs are fulfilled by these rivers,” he added.
‘Common concerns’
In J&K, both the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition National Conference (NC) have called for a re-negotiation of the treaty to make it more “pro-J&K”, and have sought compensation from the Centre for the losses incurred due to the treaty.
But Mr. Romshoo said the futuristic approach for both the countries would be to have joint hydropower projects on a river such as the Indus. “There is needed to rebuild cooperation and synergise common concerns within the scope of the treaty, and outside it through mutual agreement,” he added.
SRINAGAR December 18, 2016 07:50 IST
Updated: December 18, 2016 09:20 IST
As India and Pakistan continue to exchange barbs over the 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty (IWT), Shakil Ahmad Romshoo, an ecological engineering and climatology expert, says both countries “nurse many myths” around the treaty.
While Pakistan keeps complaining about a “deliberate slowdown of discharge” from the Jhelum, Indus and Chenab rivers in Jammu & Kashmir, Professor Romshoo, Head of the Earth Sciences Department at Kashmir University, attributes it to climate change and a fast-changing discharge pattern. “India is not stealing waters as Pakistan tends to believe. Pakistan is right about water discharge coming down but the reason lies somewhere else — it is the melting of glaciers and global warming,” Mr. Romshoo told The Hindu.
Post-1995 fall in discharge
He said that from the 1960s to 1995, water discharge had steadily increased by around 30 per cent, leading up to the highest estimate of 159 million acre feet (one acre foot is enough water to cover an acre of land one foot deep) in the three rivers. “After 1995, water discharge started coming down to 117 million acre feet. This worried Pakistan, but the fact remains that it continues to get sufficient water as per the treaty,” Mr. Romshoo said.
Against the beliefs in Pakistan of a significant decrease in supply, Mr. Romshoo said India could still retain 10 million acre feet, which could irrigate large tracts of around seven lakh hectares in the State. “The fact is that water remains under-utilised in J&K. The State has no resources to fund major hydroprojects,” he added.
Of late, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has evolved a fresh narrative around the treaty, describing it as “discriminatory” and planning “to retain waters of six rivers”, including three in Punjab, within India only.
‘It’s impossible’
“One has to be a country like North Korea to think of stopping water flow into Pakistan. It’s impossible. For example, the Kashmir Valley is a flat land and stopping the Jhelum means flooding the land. Even connecting the J&K’s three rivers is almost next to impossible and may incur incalculable costs,” Mr. Romshoo said.
Describing the IWT as the “best treaty” for the two countries, Mr. Romshoo warned against scrapping it. “It’s difficult to scrap the treaty unless an alternative treaty is in place. This kind of treaty is not unique to India and Pakistan. Europe has the Helsinki Rules on the Uses of the Waters of International Rivers, where riparian rights are shared between States.”
“Two, scrapping the treaty means fuelling anger in 95 per cent of the population of Pakistan, whose water needs are fulfilled by these rivers,” he added.
‘Common concerns’
In J&K, both the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the opposition National Conference (NC) have called for a re-negotiation of the treaty to make it more “pro-J&K”, and have sought compensation from the Centre for the losses incurred due to the treaty.
But Mr. Romshoo said the futuristic approach for both the countries would be to have joint hydropower projects on a river such as the Indus. “There is needed to rebuild cooperation and synergise common concerns within the scope of the treaty, and outside it through mutual agreement,” he added.
Hindustani78
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http://www.deccanherald.com/content/587992/inter-ministerial-task-force-indus.html
Inter-Ministerial task force on Indus Water Treaty meets
New Delhi, Dec 23, 2016, (PTI):
The inter-ministerial task force, set up by Modi government to look into strategic aspects of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, discussed ways to fast-track hydropower projects of 8500 MW-capacity in Jammu and Kashmir during its first meeting held here today.
Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's principal secretary Nripendra Mishra, the meet was attended by NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa and Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar as well chief secretaries of Punjab and J&K.
"The issues of fast-tracking implementation of hydroelectricity projects in Jammu and Kashmir were discussed during the meeting. We discussed what will be the ways of financing and structuring of the projects," top sources said.
These projects including Tulbul Navigation, intended at developing India's rights over both eastern and western rivers, will require consent of government of Jammu and Kashmir, which is expected to get back to the task force next month on the issues discussed, they said.
"We will take it forward only when there is consent of the Jammu and Kashmir government. The state's representative did not have mandate. So, the representative will speak to their Chief Minister (Mehbooba Mufti) and after that we can take the implementation forward," they added.
India has identified setting up hydroelectricity projects of a total of 18,000 MW capacity. Of these, 3000 MW have already been established. The Centre now intends at further development of 1800 MW capacity projects including Ratle (850 MW) in the first phase. In the second phase, 5500 MW capacity projects are expected to be developed.
"These projects are on both the Eastern (Beas, Ravi and Sutlej) and Western rivers (Indus, Chenab and Jhelum). We will develop capacities in accordance with our rights under the water distribution pact," the sources added.
Meanwhile, on asked about the government's meeting with World Bank expert to discuss Pakistan's objection over Kishenganga (330 MW capacity) and Ratle projects being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir, the sources said a communique to this regard is "awaited".
Pakistan had in September approached World Bank, flagging concerns that the design of the Kishenganga project was not in line with the criteria laid down under IWT. It had then demanded the international lender to set up a Court of Arbitration to look into the matter.
Refuting the claims made by Pakistan, India had asserted that the project design is "well within parameters" of the treaty and urged the World Bank to appoint a neutral expert as the issue is a "technical matter" as suggested in the treaty.
The international lender had then set up two separate mechanisms of COA as well as the neutral expert, which India objected to. The mechanisms were then "paused" by the Bank in view of the objections.
The inter-ministerial task force was formally formed last week, nearly three months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting on the 56-year-old water distribution pact with Pakistan in the aftermath of series of cross-border terror strikes including Uri attack.
In that meeting, it was also decided that India would exploit to the maximum water of Pakistan-controlled rivers including Jhelum. Under the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 and to which the World Bank is also a party, the global body has a specified role in the process of resolution of differences and disputes.
Inter-Ministerial task force on Indus Water Treaty meets
New Delhi, Dec 23, 2016, (PTI):
The inter-ministerial task force, set up by Modi government to look into strategic aspects of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan, discussed ways to fast-track hydropower projects of 8500 MW-capacity in Jammu and Kashmir during its first meeting held here today.
Chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's principal secretary Nripendra Mishra, the meet was attended by NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa and Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar as well chief secretaries of Punjab and J&K.
"The issues of fast-tracking implementation of hydroelectricity projects in Jammu and Kashmir were discussed during the meeting. We discussed what will be the ways of financing and structuring of the projects," top sources said.
These projects including Tulbul Navigation, intended at developing India's rights over both eastern and western rivers, will require consent of government of Jammu and Kashmir, which is expected to get back to the task force next month on the issues discussed, they said.
"We will take it forward only when there is consent of the Jammu and Kashmir government. The state's representative did not have mandate. So, the representative will speak to their Chief Minister (Mehbooba Mufti) and after that we can take the implementation forward," they added.
India has identified setting up hydroelectricity projects of a total of 18,000 MW capacity. Of these, 3000 MW have already been established. The Centre now intends at further development of 1800 MW capacity projects including Ratle (850 MW) in the first phase. In the second phase, 5500 MW capacity projects are expected to be developed.
"These projects are on both the Eastern (Beas, Ravi and Sutlej) and Western rivers (Indus, Chenab and Jhelum). We will develop capacities in accordance with our rights under the water distribution pact," the sources added.
Meanwhile, on asked about the government's meeting with World Bank expert to discuss Pakistan's objection over Kishenganga (330 MW capacity) and Ratle projects being constructed in Jammu and Kashmir, the sources said a communique to this regard is "awaited".
Pakistan had in September approached World Bank, flagging concerns that the design of the Kishenganga project was not in line with the criteria laid down under IWT. It had then demanded the international lender to set up a Court of Arbitration to look into the matter.
Refuting the claims made by Pakistan, India had asserted that the project design is "well within parameters" of the treaty and urged the World Bank to appoint a neutral expert as the issue is a "technical matter" as suggested in the treaty.
The international lender had then set up two separate mechanisms of COA as well as the neutral expert, which India objected to. The mechanisms were then "paused" by the Bank in view of the objections.
The inter-ministerial task force was formally formed last week, nearly three months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting on the 56-year-old water distribution pact with Pakistan in the aftermath of series of cross-border terror strikes including Uri attack.
In that meeting, it was also decided that India would exploit to the maximum water of Pakistan-controlled rivers including Jhelum. Under the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 and to which the World Bank is also a party, the global body has a specified role in the process of resolution of differences and disputes.
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