Pakistan takes India to World Bank over violation of Indus Water Treaty
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Islamabad: Pakistan takes India to World Bank over violation of Indus Water Treaty.A high-level delegation of Pakistan will hold talks with World Bank officials over the water dispute with India.
According to details, a high-level delegation from Pakistan, led by Indus Water Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah, has left for the United States to hold meeting with World Bank officials on the Indus Waters Treaty and disputes with India.
Reportedly, the delegation will press WB to take effective measures for the complete implementation of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty.
The delegation will also demand the establishment of a Court of Arbitration to address Pakistan’s concerns over the designs of the Kishanganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts), India’s two hydroelectric power projects constructed on Jhelum and Chenab rivers respectively.
The Indus Water Treaty, to which both Pakistan and India are signatories, gives Pakistan control over the waters of the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum Rivers.
Moreover, the treaty allows India control over three eastern rivers: Beas, Ravi and Sutlej. India is allowed to use the waters of the western rivers in ‘non-consumptive’ ways. The treaty also interprets this as a permission to build ‘run-of-the-river’ hydel projects that do not change the course of the river and do not deplete the water level downstream.
Pakistan argues that the Kishanganga and Ratle projects violate both conditions by changing the course of the river and depleting the water level.