WASHINGTON – A Pakistani delegation raised the issue of India’s allegedviolation of the Indus Waters Treaty with the World Bank which discussedopportunities within the treaty to seek an amicable resolution, officialssaid today.
Yesterday’s meeting took place days after Prime Minister Narendra Modiinaugurated the 330 MW Kishanganga hydroelectric project in Jammu andKashmir, amid protests from Pakistan which claims that the project on ariver flowing into Pakistan will disrupt water supplies.
Pakistan’s Foreign Office had, on Friday, voiced concern over theinauguration of the hydroelectric project, saying inauguration withoutresolution of dispute between the two countries will tantamount toviolation of the Indus Waters 1960 that regulates the use of waters in theshared rivers.
“The Indus Waters Treaty is a profoundly important international agreementthat provides an essential cooperative framework for India and Pakistan toaddress current and future challenges of effective water management to meethuman needs and achieve development goals,” a World Bank spokesperson toldPTI.
“The meetings are discussing concerns raised by the Pakistan delegation andopportunities within the treaty to seek an amicable resolution,” thespokesperson said.
No other details about the nature of Pakistani grievances were madeavailable by the World Bank officials.
The discussions are scheduled to continue today.
The Pakistani delegation is led by Attorney General, Ashtar Ausaf Ali.
Islamabad had been raising objections over the design of the hydel project,saying it is not in line with the criteria laid down under the Indus WatersTreaty (IWT) between the two countries. But, India says the project designwas well within parameters of the treaty.
The project, located at Bandipore in North Kashmir, envisages diversion ofwater of Kishan Ganga river to underground power house through a23.25-km-long head race tunnel to generate 1713 million units per annum.
The Kishanganga project was started in 2007 but on May 17, 2010, Pakistanmoved for international arbitration against India under the provisions ofthe Indus Waters Treaty.