Analysts believe friction over water disputes with India may escalate
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10/05/2012
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Business Recorder (Pakistan)
Although Pakistan has opened up its borders for enhanced trade with India, water disputes remain unresolved which several analysts, including US officials as noted in Wikileaks, believe may well be the reason for a war between the two countries.
India has already announced it would complete 330-megawatt Kishanganga hydroelectric project by 2014 despite the fact that the issue is pending in the International Court of Arbitration (ICA)/ neutral expert at The Hague in the Netherlands.
Pakistan objected to India's move to build Kishanganga hydropower and storage project, which diverted Neelum River, and filed a petition in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Pakistan maintained that the project would not only deprive it of priority rights over the river in violation of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty but would also compromise the generation capacity of a number of hydropower projects besides affecting agriculture in the country.
The court stayed the construction.
A delegation of ICJ also visited Pakistani and Indian hydropower project sites to collect evidence before finalising decision.
Water sector issues are being dealt by the Prime Minister's Advisor on Water, Kamal Majeedullah, and the Ministry of Water and Power's Adviser.
India began the construction of Wullar Barrage and Storage Project in 1985 without informing Pakistan.
Pakistan came to know about the construction through its own sources and successfully stopped work in 1987.
The proposed construction could have provided India control of waters of River Jhelum, besides allowing it to interfere with its flow.
Work is still suspended at site and the matter of the Wullar Barrage and Storage Project falls under the composite dialogue process.
Pakistan has requested India to abandon this project because it is in violation of the Treaty.
A neutral expert appointed by the World Bank on Pakistan's request decided the controversy on the design of Baglihar Plant (450MW).
The neutral expert accepted Pakistan's point of view about its objections on the design of the plant.
However, he decided three issues in favour of Pakistan and one in favour of India.
The expert's decision about the flushing of silt by bringing the water level of reservoir below its dead storage level is in contravention of various Treaty provisions.
Pakistan has taken up this element in its quest for resolving the case of Kishenganga Hydroelectric Plant being referred to the Court of Arbitration.
India supplied information about the Chutak Hydroelectric Plant on November 2, 2007.
Within the stipulated period of three months, Pakistan conveyed its objections to India on the design of the Plant on February 4, 2008.
The matter was settled by PCIW in its 105th meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission from May 29-June 2, 2010.
There is no storage in the plant and downstream flows to Pakistan are not affected.
Nimoo-Bazgo is a 45MW Hydroelectric Plant on the River Indus.
Pakistan's questions were also examined by the commission and India addressed Pakistan's concerns by providing openings in parapet wall.
However, to address the questions on pondage and spillway, the Indian Commissioner had asked for one week's time to consult senior officials.
No positive response has yet come from India.
The matter is being considered to be resolved through neutral expert in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty.