Indus Water Treaty

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chaanakya
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by chaanakya »

Theo

Could it be possible that this is one of the outcome of Aman ka tamasha where both parties don't loose much and India gains materially by not stopping the work.

CT onlee.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

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Aditya_V wrote:Why did we enter into the Indus water Treaty without a similar agreement from China on rivers in Tibet. Why are we generous to our Neighbours but they never help us?
Aditya, no other country has a similar agreement as the IWT for transborder water-bodies. The IWT is truly unique. Besides, in the timeframe that the IWT was discussed and signed, we were heavily drunk on the India-China Bhai Bhai brew. The Eisenhower regime wanted to improve the India-US relationship and convinced Mr. Nehru that it could act as an honest broker. May be, GoI considered that Tibet, being a place where not a blade of grass grows, China may never interfere in the river flow and even not possible to divert the flows. Above all, there was an issue with the Indus system of rivers (though we, as upper riparian, had nothing to gain by settling the issue) which was not the case with the Brahmaputra.

Come to think about it. We also paid 62 million GBP to Pakistan to build the dams ! We also decided to give them three times more water than what we got. Disaster.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

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India confident of winning Kishanganga dispute
Vibha Sharma/TNS

New Delhi, October 1
Confident of winning the final award in its favour, India today termed as “favourable” the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) order last week which prevents the country from undertaking permanent works above the riverbed level at the Gurez site of the Kishanganga hydropower project. The final orders are expected either in 2012-end or in early 2013.

Asserting that the stay was merely an interim legal position and in no way signified any “loss of position” for India, as was being projected by Pakistan, Water Resources Minister Pawan Bansal told The Tribune that the neighbouring country had raised two issues-stopping the work and dismantling the construction already done -and the court did not agree to either of its two contentions.

“India can go ahead with construction of powerhouses, tunnelling works, coffer dams, temporary bypass tunnel and concretisation under the riverbed for the dam. The only thing we cannot do is go above the surface of the river bed, which is not a problem since we would only be able to complete these works by 2012-end and 2013 beginning, by when the court will give its final decision,” Bansal said.

Meanwhile, India is preparing a response to strengthen its position before the International Court of Justice. The Hague-based ICA has directed India to submit a report on environmental hazards to the ecosystem due to this project.

The ICA last week barred India from undertaking any permanent works at the 330-MW hydroelectric project, leading the neighbouring country to claim a big “victory” after a decade of unsuccessful negotiations with India. The court has also asked the two countries to submit by December 19 a “joint report setting forth the areas of agreement and any points of disagreement that may arise” regarding the implementation of its order”

Former Secretary, Water Resources, Ramaswamy R Iyer also maintained that the ruling was neither a win nor a loss for either country. “It is just a temporary stay. India can still continue with related works except constructing the dam,” he said.

But considering political and environmental ramifications of the project, there appears to be some amount of scepticism with an expert saying that investments could go waste if the final award goes against India, which in other words also means that the power problem in Kashmir will continue.“India will be taking a risk by carrying out with other works till the final ruling,” said the water resources expert, who did not wish to be quoted.

......

.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by arun »

The International Court of Arbitration’s interim stay against India doing any “permanent” construction over Kishanganga riverbed has some legal experts expressing reservations :
Principles of international law are applied while adjudicating the federal water disputes in India or the US. But, so far, no Inter-state Water Disputes Tribunal in India or Supreme Court in the US has restrained any state from constructing a dam by an interim order,” says Supreme Court Advocate Mohan Katarki. expressing his reservations against interim stay. “In fact, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in 1991 declined to restrain Karnataka from constructing its Hemavathy and Harangi dams,” added Katarki, who has represented Karnataka in Krishna Water Dispute case.
Read it all in the Indian Express:

Pak yet to win, India positive but reluctant to assert
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

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chaanakya
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

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India rejects Pakistan’s objections over another power project
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Commission undertook first ever visit to Nimoo-Bazgo project site being built by India on Indus River and found the project in total violation of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, a senior official at Pakistan Commission of Indus Water confided to The News.

“The country’s awakening is too much belated as India will be able to build the Nimoo-Bazgo project by July 2012 suffocating the water flows in Indus that guarantees life to the whole of Pakistan.”
Pakistan raised five objections to the design and depth of the dam, but Indian authorities have refused to consider the objection of Pakistan. “With the spillways along with gates, India will be able to regulate the water of Indus which is not acceptable to Pakistan.”

Pakistan has decided to take India to the International Court of Justice for building the project in total violation of the Treaty.

However, Pakistan has cleared another project namely Chutuk hydropower, also being built on Indus River. “New Delhi has made holes in the wall of the poundage as per the desire of Pakistan so that water could not be stopped.”
The issues seems primarily technical ( already decided in Baglihar case) and meant for NE. However it would be too late for Pakistan to stop them even if they approach COA.
The project of Nimoo-Bazgo having a capacity to generate 45 MW will be completed by July 2012. However, the Chutuk hydropower project will come on stream by next month.
India also managed to get approval of carbon credits amounting to $4,82,083 in seven years ($68,869 per year) from the UN for the two controversial projects, Nimoo-Bazgo and Chuttak hydropower, which are not in line with the Indus Waters Treaty, after showing that it has got clearance report on trans-boundary environmental impact assessment of the said projects from Pakistan.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by chaanakya »

http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-news ... ttle-looms

same news as above from another paki source.

it is expected that Pakistan would give a go-ahead to India on Chutak Hydroelectric project. Sources privy to the development informed that Pakistan was gearing up its efforts to get a case registered in the ICJ against the controversial 45 MW Nimoo-Buzgo power project being built on the Indus River, involving construction of dam, coffer dam, diversion channel, power house and other defined facilities. The Indian government has not so far removed the five objections mainly on the pondage level, spillways and silt flushing outlet, etc earlier bilaterally raised in various meetings of the Indus River Commission, the sources said, adding that a delegation headed by the Acting Indus Water Commissioner on 1st of October visited both sites of Nimoo-Buzgo Hydroelectric Project and Chutak Hydroelectric project and found utter violations of Indus Basin Water Treaty 1960. The Acting Indus Water Commissioner has submitted its report to Water & Power Ministry for further process and it is likely that Pakistan would approach ICJ third time against the breach of IWT by the Indian government, the sources said on Saturday.

The sources further informed that Indian government satisfied Pakistan’s concerns regarding Chutak Hydroelectric project so Pakistan is expected to give a go-ahead to India in this regard.
It is relevant to mention that Nimoo-Buzgo power project situated at village Alchi, 70 kilometres from Leh in the Indian occupied state of Jammu and Kashmir, was initially planned to start generation of 45MW hydropower electricity while 44 MW Chutak Hydroelectric project located in Kargil district of Jammu & Kashmir on River Suru, which is a tributary of Indus involves 47.5m long Barrage having 15m height above the crest level, approximately 160m long 4.5m diameter two intake tunnels and an underground power house with transformer cavern cum draft tube gate hall would start generating hydro electricity by next month (November, 2011).

The project site (Barrage) is located near village Sarzhe (upstream of village Chechatang) and the powerhouse is proposed on right bank of river Suru near village Chutak (just opposite village Minji) powerhouse and barrage sites are 9 km and 15 km away respectively from Kargil on Kargil-Zanskar Road.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

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chaanakya wrote:India rejects Pakistan’s objections over another power project
Pakistan raised five objections to the design and depth of the dam, but Indian authorities have refused to consider the objection of Pakistan. “With the spillways along with gates, India will be able to regulate the water of Indus which is not acceptable to Pakistan.
The question is not whether something is 'acceptable to Pakistan or not'. The question whether India is violating any provision of the IWT or not.

Similarly, the question is not about India's ability or future intentions. The question simply is whether India is violating any provision of the IWT or not.
Pakistan has decided to take India to the International Court of Justice for building the project in total violation of the Treaty.

ICJ, yet again ? Pakistan seems to have a fatal attraction to the ICJ. For their kind information, they cannot take this issue to the ICJ. Period.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

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Pakisran reportedly completes dam diversion tunnel in record time
LAHORE: The Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) has successfully completed dam diversion tunnel of the project in record time, experts said on Tuesday.

Timely construction of Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project has extremely been required to undo Indian efforts of diverting water of the River Neelum, a tributary of River Jhelum, which is called Kishanganga in the Indian occupied Kashmir.

According to experts, Pakistan will be left to suffer billions of rupees losses in the wake of reduction in hydro generation by the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project, which is situated downstream in Azad Kashmir if the Kishanganga hydropower project being built by India gets commissioned earlier.

Pakistan agriculture sector will also face huge losses due to ensuing fluctuation in river flows, they said.

Pakistan has been vehemently opposing the construction of the Kishanganga hydropower project. Pakistan believes that the diversion of waters of Neelum is not allowed under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, and it will face water deficit, when the project gets completed, the experts said.

Recently, the Court of Arbitration has given a relief to Pakistan on this issue as it has barred India from diverting Neelum water as part of Kishanganga hydropower project being built in the Indian occupied Kashmir on River Neelum upstream.

As per the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan has exclusive rights of western rivers, including River Jhelum, they said.

According to WAPDA spokesman, half-a-kilometre long tunnel has been completed in two years at a cost of Rs492 million to divert the River Neelum.

As on today, 25 percent water of the River Neelum is flowing through the tunnel, while the whole river will be diverted after four days.


Subsequently, construction of the main dam will be started, he said.

The construction work on the other components, including adits and main tunnels is also in full swing and 16 kilometre adits and main tunnels had already been completed.

After completion of the dam, a power unit of 50MW will be installed in the dam diversion tunnel. This 50MW generation will be in addition to the designed 969MW capacity of the project.

The Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project is a part of WAPDA’s low-cost generation programme, being implemented on priority basis.

The project is being constructed over the rivers Neelum and Jhelum in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The Overall completion of the project is scheduled to be completed in 2016. The project will contribute around 5.15 billion units of electricity annually to the national grid.

Annual benefits of the project have been estimated at Rs30 billion
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

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India-Pakistan issues: Forget Kashmir, terrorism. Worry about water

Contains interesting observation of Sayed Jamaat Ali Shah who was former PPIC. It seems Pakistan wanted drinking water from Eastern River and in turn India asked for Chenab , Indus waters. This is typical Pakistani approach like a spoilt child. It only wants but can't give( check the MFN status). There , you can't have negotiations with juveniles and ignorants

He said that regardless of how Pakistan and India felt about each other, their geographical and historical closeness meant they had to cooperate. “We have divided the countries but we cannot divide the economies. The problem is we are not communicating information in time about water discharge,” he said.

He said that another concern in Pakistan was the reliance on tube-wells. “We have flouted British era restrictions on ground water usage by allowing [too many] tube-wells,” he said.

Syed Jamaat Ali Shah said the two sides did not trust each other. “We want to get at least drinking water from the Ravi, Sutlej and Bias. When we last tried negotiating it, India wanted water from the Chenab. It also did not discharge its Ravi water, saying Pakistan is wasteful of its resources and cannot be trusted.” :rotfl:

He said when Pakistan asked for early information on water discharge so it could compile flood warnings, the Indians sought water from the Chenab and Indus. :twisted:

He said that Pakistan lacked water experts. “We do not have a single international water expert in Pakistan. We always seek help from England or the US. We cannot negotiate with India unless we increase capacity,” he said.

How can anyone from our government talk about water as an economic resource with [Indian Prime Minsiter] to Manmohan Singh? He has a PhD in economics; no one in our government does,” he said.
Theo_Fidel

Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by Theo_Fidel »

^^^^
Chaanakya,

That was exactly what I was talking about. TSP is free to create 'facts' on the ground that will become a major bone of contention from its side for perpetuity. The court was foolish to be so one sided. India should withdraw and refuse to participate anymore IMHO.

I suspect with this mindset the court is going to deliver a unworkable or detrimental verdict to India. The court will be dissolved and another one can be reconvened. It is that important.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by chaanakya »

How do you deal with a bleating pigsty in your neighborhood?
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

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chaanakya wrote:India-Pakistan issues: Forget Kashmir, terrorism. Worry about water

Contains interesting observation of Sayed Jamaat Ali Shah who was former PPIC.
He said that Pakistan lacked water experts. “We do not have a single international water expert in Pakistan. We always seek help from England or the US. We cannot negotiate with India unless we increase capacity,” he said.
I fondly recall the incident during one of the visits of the PPIC when discussions were still going on over the Baglihar issue. Indian PIC decided to take them to Roorkee to the Hydrological Institute to show them the technical model of the BHEP. At the end of the meeting, the PPIC openly declared that they could not understand most of the technical matters. We had a lively discussion here after that.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by Prasad »

chaanakya wrote:How do you deal with a bleating pigsty in your neighborhood?
Call your friends for a hamburger party? :evil:
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by saip »

chaanakya wrote:How do you deal with a bleating pigsty in your neighborhood?
Throw some cr$p at it & the problem solved
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by chaanakya »

"Water: Asia's New Battleground" by Brahma Chellany
D Murali of the Hindu has written a review. Part of it is quoted here.
"Munificent Allocation"
Bighearted 80-20

A more disturbing narrative in the book is about the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, under which India bigheartedly agreed to the exclusive reservation of the largest three of the six Indus system rivers for Pakistan, offering indefinitely four-fifths of the total waters of the Indus system.

One learns that the treaty, which had the World Bank as the agent, did not necessitate the redrawing of the British-set political frontiers, but split the Indus River basin into northern and southern parts by tracing a ‘fictitious line' from east to west that severely limited the sovereign rights of India on three key upper rivers.

The average replenishable flows of the three western rivers (viz. the Chenab, the Jhelum, and the main Indus stream) were computed to total 167.2 billion cubic m a year, while India settled for a mere 40.4 billion cubic m, or the total yearly flows of the three small, so-called eastern rivers, the Sutlej, the Beas, and the Ravi, informs the author.

He adds that no other water-sharing treaty in modern world history matches this level of generosity on the part of the upper-riparian state for the lower-riparian one. “In fact, the volume of waters earmarked for Pakistan from India under the Indus Treaty is more than ninety times greater than what the US is required to release for Mexico under the 1944 US-Mexico Water Treaty, which stipulates a guaranteed minimum transboundary delivery of 1.85 billion cubic m of the Colorado River waters yearly.”

The author cites from ‘Indus Waters Treaty,' a book by Niranjan Gulhati, the chief Indian negotiator, that the agreement had been concluded with ‘no study' having been undertaken in India on the irrigation, energy and other benefits that could be secured for local communities from the western rivers.

Chellaney rues that, in a fundamentally competitive world marked by aggressive pursuit of relative gains, Indian diplomacy during Nehru's seventeen years in office stood out for not learning from mistakes and continuing to operate on ingenuous premises.

“Despite Pakistan's continuing hostilities against India after its 1947-48 invasion and occupation of more than one-third of the State of Jammu and Kashmir, Nehru personally signed the Indus Treaty that apportioned 80.52 per cent of the Indus system waters to Pakistan – a munificent allocation by an upstream country unsurpassed in scale in the annals of international water pacts.
Theo_Fidel

Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by Theo_Fidel »

So, Pak rupee 26,000 Crore for a ~ 1000 MW Hydel project. Even at their collapsed exchange rate this is about $3 Billion. How can they possibly justify the ROI. Pure H/D project nothing more. I make this prediction right now. This project will never generate a single MW of power. They are bankrupting themselves to 'tackle' India.

Code: Select all

http://tribune.com.pk/story/284481/neelum-jhelum-hydropwer-project-inordinate-delay-to-cost-dearly-warns-watchdog/
Pakistan’s inability to complete the Neelum Jhelum Hydropower Project (NJHP) ahead of India’s Kishanganga dam, despite the cost almost trebling to Rs260 billion, would bring down water availability to the project by 21%, and consequently decrease power generation capacity by 11%.

Despite cost escalation, from initial estimates of Rs95 billion, “the completion date of NJHP is uncertain even after 22 years of approval,” a report by Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission (PMIC) noted.
Madrassa math below...
Lt-Gen (retd) Mohammad Zubair, Chief Executive of NJHC, admitted that the project was facing a two-and-a-half-year delay, citing delay in acquiring land by Azad Jammu and Kashmir government and the 2005 earthquake that altered the project’s design. Zubair said the administration was in process of procuring a $92 million tunnel boring machine which will advance the work by two years. An expected earlier completion would also help recover part of escalation cost since the project would generate Rs45 billion worth of electricity in a single year, he added.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

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http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-news ... ng-economy
Bhasha Dam – a lifeline for tottering economy
( Pakistan have been toterring since it was plucked from Indian tree)
LAHORE – Diamer-Bhasha Dam is a ‘lifeline’ for the country’s faltering economy, would not only help meet that country’s future agriculture and power requirements but also ensure food and water security, thanks to the United States for backing the construction of the direly needed project. Water experts and top agriculturists say that Diamer-Bhasha Dam project would also extend the life of Tarbela Dam by 35 years and would help control flood damages in the country. However, water strategists warned that the project is likely to face opposition from Indian Lobbyists in the US Congress alleging that Pakistan had allowed Chinese military presence in Gilgit-Baltistan under the garb of repairing Karakoram Highway (KKH). The Indians term it a dangerous development for Indian security.The ground-breaking for the Dam in the Northern Areas by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has provided the Indian with an ample opportunity to initiate a fresh water row against Pakistan,” Muhammad Ramzan Rafique, a Denmark-based Pakistani agriculture expert said.
It is important to mention here that the reason for objecting Diamer-Bhasha Dam is Delhi’s stale argument that project is located in disputed territory and could cause floods in Indian-held Kashmir. This politically driven defence by Indian water authorities is totally unjust.
Pakistan is a one-river-basin country and all of its hydroelectric power projects come from the Indus. Estimates suggest that while Pakistan has only achieved 11 per cent storage capacity, India on its allocated eastern rivers has accomplished 52 per cent. In the past, Pakistan benefited immensely from the major water infrastructure (Tarbela, Mangla, Chashma) built in the Indus basin. But now, the storage capacity of these reservoirs is being on a decline due to continuous sedimentation over the last 30 years. Pakistan is left with a very little water storage capacity.
(Na Dhela, Na Paisa Na Ruppiya, Paki Kare Chodharia)
Pakistan, an increasingly water-stressed and energy-deficient country must follow their suit. Diamer-Bhasha Dam may not be panaceas for all the economic woes but it could be a very critical link in Pakistan’s energy and water requirements. What needs to be done is crystal clear: Pakistan needs to push the World Bank to adhere to its own policies and not be influenced by Indian hectoring or complaints.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

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Prem wrote:Bhasha Dam – a lifeline for tottering economy
It is important to mention here that the reason for objecting Diamer-Bhasha Dam is Delhi’s stale argument that project is located in disputed territory and could cause floods in Indian-held Kashmir. This politically driven defence by Indian water authorities is totally unjust.
OK, what is the argument for debunking this 'totally unjust' Indian objection ?
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by chaanakya »

India has already lodged a formal protest with Pakistan about a year back. The fear is that the project would inundate areas in J&K across the LOC and would also obstruct the flow and cause flood.

Their EIA report does not have any clearance from India. The project is likely to cause severe irreversible environmental damages in POK and J&K and joint EIA is a must.

Pakistan is yet to reply to Indian complaint.

They would have only one argument that Western River is allocated to them. They forget to read other clauses.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

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chaanakya wrote:They would have only one argument that Western River is allocated to them. They forget to read other clauses.
Yes, the Western rivers are allocated to Pakistan on which any engineering work can be constructed on Pakistani soil, and GB is not Pakistan whatever a Pakistani may call this as 'stale argument'.

IMO, India must not have asked for EIA details because that would be tantamount to de-facto accepting the territorial claim of Pakistan over GB. India must put its foot down on the Diamar-Basha Dam. Let them build Kalabagh instead. Diamar-Basha cannot become a fait accompli for Pakistani irredentism.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by arun »

Excerpt pertaining to the "Green Belt" case and the Kishanganga arbitration:
Briefly, Pakistan demanded cessation of further work on the project, a requirement for India to update Pakistan and the Court on any adverse developments, and be subjected to the principles of what is regarded under the International law principle of the Passage through Green Belt (“Green Belt”), i.e. provide an undertaking to the Court and Pakistan for restoration of the status quo ante, in case of significant adverse effect being determined in the final award.

The Green Belt case between Finland and Denmark (1991) concerned a road and rail traffic project. Challenged by Finland as it impeded passage of its drill ships and oil rigs, the case is a landmark in establishing the own risk principle for any State engaged in works which may violate the rights of another State. India was not willing to volunteer such an undertaking which would involve dismantling of the dam, as in India’s assessment there was no imminent harm to Pakistan. Considerable submissions were exchanged on these issues, thus in the course of the hearing, Pakistan enlarged its claim from not to have the flow obstructed or diverted, to restraining the construction of the dam to meet the needs of the people in a different River Basin. India strongly contested the assertion of any right of veto or prior consent being envisaged under the Treaty. On balance of convenience, India’s Counsel argued forcefully on India’s right to construct the Project being plausible, the measures requested by Pakistan could inflict irreparable damage to India.

Pakistan’s arguments essentially portrayed itself as a victim, by references to 1948, and also the Baglihar dispute, and the deepening of the concerns arising from the site visit, even though there were no major hiccups for 63 years.

Yet at the close of hearing, India out of a sense of fairness or as a nation bound by the rule of law, agreed to be bound by the Green Belt case, conceded on non diversion of waters till 2015, in keeping the Tribunal and Pakistan intimated of any imminent developments, and assured unequivocal submission to the final outcome of the proceedings. Even then, the Tribunal has ordered the suspension of many key components of the construction activity, with temporary structures being permitted.

It is possible that the concessions were made as India is confident that the final award will be in its favour. Or to buy peace and settle with Pakistan as the final award will be communicated in the next year.
From the Business Standard:

India's soft stance in troubled waters dispute
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by Vipul »

Indus re-enters India after two centuries, feeds Little Rann, Nal Sarovar.

The Indus or Sindhu, a major river flowing through Pakistan around which the great Indus Valley Civilisation flourished, may have shifted course after an earthquake in 1819, but recent satellite images show the river has re-entered India feeding a lake near Ahmedabad known as Nal Sarovar.

Rohan ThakkarThe discovery has been made by Rohan Thakkar, a postgraduate student of climate change working on the water bodies of Gujarat.

The development will hugely benefit the water-starved Kutch region as well as the Bhal region adjoining Ahmedabad district.Speaking to Mail Today, Rohan said he spoke to his father about it after detecting that water from a river in Pakistan was flowing into the Rann of Kutch. Further examination of the satellite images showed the water was flowing from the Indus.

Rohan's father Dr P. S. Thakkar, who is a satellite archaeologist with the Indian Space Research Organisation, said the river started flowing into India last year when the Indus river basin was heavily flooded. "Heavy rains had left the river basin along with the Mancher, Hemal and Kalri lakes inundated and people breached several canal heads," Thakkar said.

Sindhu changes course.In about four days, water entered the Great Rann of Kutch. "Same thing happened this year too. In September, water from the river reached the Great Rann of Kutch," Thakkar said.

After inundating the Great Rann, water reached the Little Rann and then Viramgam near Ahmedabad on September 19."The water entered India near Vighokot in the Great Rann of Kutch and also through the old Naraka course, through which the Indus used to flow into the Great Rann of Kutch before the 1819 earthquake," Thakkar said.

According to the archaeologist, the volume of water was so much that it inundated both the Great Rann and Little Rann, and travelled nearly 500km to Viramgam this year."We do have evidence that there were habitations in the Rann of Kutch and the Indus flowed in this area but majorly shifted its course westwards after the great earthquake in 1819," Thakkar said."While these are signs that the river is steadily shifting its course, siltation in the Indus river basin too could be responsible for the change in course," Rohan said.

Dr Y. T. Jasrai, programme coordinator of the climate control department at Gujarat University, said the phenomenon had been taking place for some time. "But the actual development came to light when this project was undertaken by Rohan and we realised water from the Indus is actually flowing into the Rann of Kutch," he remarked.

"We have found several Harappan sites, including Lothal, along the Gulf of Kutch dating back to 3700 BC. It is generally believed the Saurashtra and Kutch areas were islands separated by the Gulf of Kutch," Dr Y. S. Ravat, director of archaeology, said. "At that time, one of the major branches of the Indus was emptying its water into the Great Rann of Kutch," he added."However, after the 1819 quake, the Allahbund came up in the northwest of Bhuj as a natural bund and stopped the water from flowing into the Great Rann of Kutch and the area gradually dried up. Successively, the river too changed its course," Ravat added.

"There is nothing surprising if the river now starts shifting eastwards," he said.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by Vipul »

Kishanganga: India ready to take on Pakistan at The Hague.

India will file its counter-memorial before the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), at The Hague, by November end, in response to Pakistan’s memorial seeking a complete moratorium on the 330-MW Kishanganga Hydro Electricity Project, J&K.

India is expected to base its arguments on the provisions of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, which it claims, allows use of western rivers — Chenab, Jhelum and Indus — for hydro power projects, with certain restrictions, and that India has not violated the treaty.
Also, sources said, New Delhi is expected to tell the court since Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric Project in PoK — which Pakistan claims will be affected — is “India territory” occupied by Pakistan, Pakistan cannot raise the Kishenganga project before the PCA.

Pakistan had earlier taken the matter to the PCA claiming India had violated the 1960 Indus Water Treaty and the dam would seriously jeopardise Pakistan’s interest and the Neelum-Jhelum Hydroelectric Project near Muzaffarabad, capital of PoK.

A seven-judge bench had started arbitration proceedings in the matter in January. In June, Pakistan had sought interim measures from the PCA to ask India to stop all work on the dam.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by chaanakya »

http://www.kashmirobserver.net/index.ph ... s&Itemid=4

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=77614
in an written reply to a question, the Union Minister of State for Power, K C Venugopal, told the Lok Sabha today the Court of Arbitration constituted under the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 had issued an ordered on 23rd of September this year “for interim measures” regarding construction of Kishanganga hydro power project in Jammu and Kashmir.

“As per the orders, it is open to India to continue with all works relating to the project, which include the sub-surface foundation of the dam, but not the construction of any permanent works on or above the Kishanganga / Neelum river bed that may inhibit the restoration of the full flow of the river to its natural channel,” the minister said.

Venugopal said presently the work on the following components of the project was being carried:

• construction of Head Race Tunnel (HRT) started and 3752 m and 718 m HRT excavation with Drill and Blast Method (DBM) and Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) respectively has been completed;

• construction of power house;

• construction of diversion tunnel in progress and 94 per cent lining completed;

• construction of temporary coffer dam to permit operation of diversion tunnel;

• construction of HRT intake structure, Surge Shaft and pressure shaft
.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by Prem »

http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDe ... 0317&Cat=9
A Kabul River Treaty
Pakistan is once again accusing India of water hegemony. This time, however, the accusation refers not to Indian damming of the Western Rivers in J&K, but to Indian support for Afghan development projects along the Kabul River. This accusation indulges in conspiratorial thinking, and distracts from a factual understanding of the water issues between the two countries.According to Arshad Abbasi, a water and energy expert from the Sustainable Development Policy Institute in Islamabad, Afghanistan, with assistance from India and the World Bank, has plans to build 12 dams on the Kabul River, with a combined storage capacity of 4.7MAF. Pakistan is concerned that these dams will stop crucial water supply from flowing to the Indus River. It is also concerned that Indian support for these dams will increase India’s sphere of hydro-influence in the region.
In order to understand India’s possible participation in Afghan dam-building – along with that of the US government, the World Bank, IMF, ADB, and others – one has to understand the context: namely, Afghanistan’s lack of hydro-development.Firstly, due to successive wars in Afghanistan, water infrastructure in the country is shockingly underdeveloped. All 12 of the existing water reservoirs in the country were built between 1920 and 1940. Afghanistan has sufficient water to meet its needs – around 2,775 cubic meters of water are currently available per capita, which is well above the water threshold of 1,800m3 per capita. However, the country has not been able to harness this water adequately.
Secondly, even though the Kabul River Basin (KRB) is the most important river basin in Afghanistan – containing half the country’s urban population, including the city of Kabul – it is one of the most underutilised basins in Afghanistan in terms of overall surface water availability. The proportion of water use in the KRB is 25 percent. Thirdly, disaster-management information systems have revealed that the mountainous north-eastern region of the country, where the Kabul River is situated, is one of the most flood- and drought-prone areas in Afghanistan. Annual flow is extremely erratic, dropping as low as 11.2MAF and rising as high as 34.8MAF. This makes storage all the more essential in order to provide water in lean periods, and to avoid disasters like flash floods during sudden flow outbursts. Since the Kabul River, a tributary of the Indus, is a shared river between Pakistan and Afghanistan, this challenge of the 12 dams is essentially an Af-Pak issue rather than an Indo-Pak one. The issue of the 12 Kabul River dams, rather than simply being a reference point for India’s development assistance programme in Afghanistan, should be the spark for a water agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan. So far, India/Pakistan is the only Indus Basin riparian pairing that enjoys a treaty or agreement on water sharing; Afghanistan and Pakistan do not enjoy the same advantage. The two countries came close to drafting a water treaty in 2003 and 2006, but these attempts failed. From a strategic standpoint, the timing could not be better for a water treaty between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Recent months have seen an increase in tensions between the two countries, heightened by the assassination of former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani. A comprehensive water accord – one that addresses both the Afghan need for water development and Pakistan’s apprehensions about a reduction in water flows – could do wonders not only for water security but also for political ties.Though India-Pakistan water relations are not directly involved in the Kabul River issue, they still hold relevance. The Indus Water Treaty (IWT) between India and Pakistan can be used to inform an Afghanistan-Pakistan agreement on the Kabul River, and this can subsequently create a more comprehensive view of water security throughout the Indus River Basin.Although not without limitations, the IWT is considered one of the more successful water treaties in the world. The treaty is one of the few on trans-boundary water that addresses specific water allocations; it provides unique design requirements for run-of-the-river dams that ensure the steady flow of water while at the same time guaranteeing power generation through hydroelectricity. The India-Pakistan water treaty also provides a mechanism for consultation and arbitration in case questions, disagreements, or disputes arise over water sharing. All of these features could be applicable to an Afghanistan-Pakistan water treaty. India’s desire to assist Afghanistan with dam construction would be less politically fraught, given that Pakistan would presumably accept the existence of these dam projects regardless of who is helping construct them. And the United States, with its goal of proceeding with reconciliation in Afghanistan, would welcome the political implications of the treaty. Perhaps most importantly, an Afghanistan-Pakistan water accord could eventually be applied to an understanding of water-sharing for the region at large, founded on cooperation rather than competition.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by arun »

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan now wants to drag India into arbitration over the Nimoo Bazgo project:

Pakistan decides to take Nimoo-Bazgo project to ICA
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by chaanakya »

http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDe ... 0317&Cat=9
originally quoted by Prem.
India has not confirmed its support for the building of all 12 Afghan dams on the Kabul River, though it is currently one of Afghanistan’s largest assistance donors; it has $1.3 billion invested in infrastructure projects. Water infrastructure, including dam-building, is an integral part of Afghanistan’s 2008 Development Agenda.

...........
...........


The issue of the 12 Kabul River dams, rather than simply being a reference point for India’s development assistance programme in Afghanistan, should be the spark for a water agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan. So far, India/Pakistan is the only Indus Basin riparian pairing that enjoys a treaty or agreement on water sharing; Afghanistan and Pakistan do not enjoy the same advantage. The two countries came close to drafting a water treaty in 2003 and 2006, but these attempts failed.


...........
...........

Although not without limitations, the IWT is considered one of the more successful water treaties in the world.The treaty is one of the few on trans-boundary water that addresses specific water allocations; it provides unique design requirements for run-of-the-river dams that ensure the steady flow of water while at the same time guaranteeing power generation through hydroelectricity. The India-Pakistan water treaty also provides a mechanism for consultation and arbitration in case questions, disagreements, or disputes arise over water sharing. All of these features could be applicable to an Afghanistan-Pakistan water treaty.
IWT is successful because it give 80% water to a lower riparian country with lots of leverage to stall projects proposed by upper riparian country. It is successful because India has been honoring it and being patient with intransigent Pakistan despite wars and terrorism of its state and pseudo-non-state terrorism. Now it wants to trap Afghanistan in similar treaty. I think Indian experience in trying to maintain smooth functioning of IWT should some in handy to development of Kabul River Basin. Pakistan is a hostile country for Afghanistan and no concession should be given on any account which threatens development and prosperity of Afghanistan. India would do well to continue its assistance in development of Kabul basin and also deploy its forces to protect assets built up through Indian assistance.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by chaanakya »

[url=http://www.d%20awn.com/2011/11/14/sharing-water-resources-with-afghanistan.html]Sharing water resources with Afghanistan[/url]

ndia also plans to assist Afghanistan in constructing multi-purpose water projects on the tributaries of the Kabul River.
Afghanistan is planning for construction of dams and facilities on its rivers for flood control, electricity generation and irrigation expansion.

Once implemented, such projects would impact the amount of water and timing of peak runoff for Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

Afghanistan’s initiative for construction multi-purpose water projects on the tributaries of Kabul River with a total water storage capacity of 4.7 million acre feet (MAF), 25 per cent more than that of Mangla Dam, would adversely impact Pakistan.

It is estimated to suffer 16 to 17 per cent drop in water supply from Afghanistan after construction of 13 dams on the Kabul River.

About 17 million acre-feet water enters Pakistan through the Kabul River every year. Currently, Afghanistan irrigates 12,000 acres with water from the Kabul River. If Afghan government goes ahead with its hydroelectric project on the river and the Kama irrigation project, it would be able to irrigate another 14,000 acres, using another 0.5 MAF of water.

The basin covers 53,000 km2 within Afghanistan and 14,000 km2 within Pakistan before the confluence with the Indus River.

The basin has numerous small rivers and seasonal streams. The river basin supports over 300,000 ha of intensively irrigated areas and high valued agricultural crops, including over 50,000 ha within Pakistan.

In Pakistan the first head works on Kabul River is the Warsak Dam. From this point, various canals are developed to irrigate Peshawar Valley. These canals have significantly contributed towards the prosperity of Charsadda district. Bara River flowing in from the Khyber Agency in the southwest is the first tributary to the Kabul River in Pakistan. Another and a major contributor to the Kabul River is the Swat River. It rises in the northern Swat near the city of Kalam and after traveling southward for about 70 miles gets joined by the Panjkora River near the town of Kalan Gai in Malakand District.

The Panjkora River itself, just like Swat River, rises near Shiren gai in Dir and travels south to meet its counterpart. Together these two rivers continue to travel southward as Swat River and after passing through the Mahmond Agency fall into the Kabul River near Charsadda.

The Afghans argue that water demand for Kabul City and within the river basin is expected to increase in the future, and Pakistan has significantly increased its water use of the Indus River for power, municipal and agriculture over the last 30 years.

According to a report on “Trans-boundary Water Policy of Afghanistan,” the country uses only a small portion (about 30 per cent) of the water that originates in the country. The primary source of water is snow melt in the Hindu Kush Mountains with runoff peaking in early summer. Afghanistan lacks sufficient dams, reservoirs and flow control structures to adequately manage and control this runoff. As a result, the country is susceptible to both severe flooding and droughts, and has little control of water flow into neighbouring countries.

For this, four hydropower projects will be constructed in Punjshir sub-basin. These include (a) the $332 million Totumdara project to generate 200 MW of electricity and create water storage capacity of 3,32,510 acres feet; (b)the $1.174 billion Barak project to generate 100 MW of electricity and store 4,29,830 acres feet of water; (c)$1.078 billion Punjshir (100 MW) project with a capacity to store 10,54,300 acres feet of water; and (d) the $607 million Baghdara (210 MW) project with a capacity 3,24,400 acres feet of water.

In the Logur Upper Kabul sub-basin on the Kabul River four more dams are to be built which include the $72 million Haijana project (72 MW) with water storage capacity of 1,78,420 acres feet; $207 million Kajab (15 MW) project with water storage capacity of 3,24,400 acres feet; the $356 million Tangi Wadag (56 MW) project (2,83,850 acres feet); and $51m Gat (86 MW) project ( 4,05,500 acres feet).

Another four more dams will be built in the Lower Kabul sub-basin, including the $442 million Sarobi project (210 MW) with the capacity to store 3,24,400 acres feet of water; the $1.434 billion Laghman project (1251 MW) with water storage capacity of 233568 acres feet; and the $1.094 billion Konar (A) (94.8 MW) and Kama projects (11.5 MW).

Pakistan is one of the most water-stressed countries, a situation likely to worsen into outright water scarcity owing to high population growth. There is no additional water that can be injected into the system. Pakistan’s is dependent on a single river system and lacks the robustness that many countries enjoy by virtue of having a multiplicity of river basins and diversity of water resources.

Even, under the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan is supposed to receive 55,000 cusecs of water, but authorities complain that its share was drastically reduced, causing damage to crops. Now it only received around 13,000 cusecs during the winter and a maximum of 29,000 cusecs during the summer. This averages around 22,000-25,000 cusecs – less than half of its share. For a country whose water availability per capita has plummeted by 78.4 per cent over the past six decades, its policymakers need to plan actively to avoid threats to food security and severe power shortage.

Unfortunately, there is no water sharing agreement between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Except for an agreement on the Helmand River, no treaties exist between Afghanistan and its neighbours on water sharing.
( good for afghanistan)
In the past, Pakistan did try to bring Afghanistan to the negotiating table to work out some mechanism to ensure a win-win situation for both sides. The World Bank agreed to facilitate a bilateral water treaty but refused to become the guarantor as it is the guarantor of the Indus Waters Treaty. The Afghan administration, however, excused itself by saying it was working on its own national water policy and it was not possible to initiate talks until that policy is ready.

The prime minister of Pakistan has already established Pakistan Transborder Water Organisation (PTWO) to tackle issues arising from construction of dams and water sector projects by upper riparian countries. :rotfl: Now, to highlight the issue and concerns pertaining to Kabul river projects, experts are trying to estimate the expected loss to the irrigation system in case the Afghan government builds dams on the Kabul River.

The two states can establish a joint, multi-disciplinary, scientific fact-finding working group to build a mutually agreed hydrological knowledge base on the Kabul River basin; or set up a bilateral Afghanistan-Pakistan water resources commission to negotiate hydro-power and agricultural development plans. Both the countries can negotiate a bilateral treaty on the use and management of the Kabul River’s water resources for their mutual benefit.
Pakistan knows that it would lose its undue share that it is getting by default.Hence all this options to lure Afghanistan into Paki trap of treaty or bilateral cooperation. The only thing it would achieve is to deprive Afghanistan of its development and make its water policy perpetually dependent on Paki perfidy and ill intentions.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by Pratyush »

^^^

WRT, the report of the indus re entering India after 2 centuries. Please note that back then it was all India onlee.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by SSridhar »

chaanakya wrote:[url=http://www.d%20awn.com/2011/11/14/sharing-water-resources-with-afghanistan.html]Sharing water resources with Afghanistan[/url]
Both the countries can negotiate a bilateral treaty on the use and management of the Kabul River’s water resources for their mutual benefit.
Afghanistan should not rush into any talks with Pakistan on water-sharing, leave alone signing a treaty. The danger is that Afghanistan may lack expertise even if their intentions were clear. In any case, they should not also involve India as otherwise India could advise them to be generous like they way they did in IWT. The Afghans should study the IWT thoroughly to formulate their own do's and dont's.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by Prem »

http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/05/neelum-j ... arvel.html
Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project
On the ground, however, the Neelum-Jhelum hydropower project seems to be an engineering marvel, the completion of which will not only provide 969MW of cheap electricity to the national grid, but also secure Pakistan’s water rights over the Neelum River, currently under threat from India’s water aggression.A group of journalists visited the area recently.Of the combined 55km length of the tunnel, about 18km is now complete, including eight smaller tunnels. The 32-km main tunnel, which is to divert Neelum waters from Nauseri to Chattar Kalas, has achieved about 4km progress.The mighty Neelum has already been diverted through smaller 500-metre diversion tunnel to dry out the riverbed for construction of 786-foot dam that is currently in progress.The presence of foreigners from as far as China and Venezuela and their interaction with local engineers and professionals is already witnessing a cultural change.Our major focus now is to ensure that TBM reaches project site by the end of February so that its starts operations before the rainy season in March,” says Gen Zubair.The TBM components have reached China from Germany and are currently under assembling process. The machine will arrive in Karachi by the end of January from where it will take about three weeks to reach Muzaffarabad.The TBM will expedite the construction of 32-km tunnel that has to pass 400-metre underneath the Jhelum riverbed to reach Chattar Kalas where an underground powerhouse will be located to dispatch 5.15 billion units of electricity per annum to national grid at Ghakkar Mandi near Gujranwala. forced the government to secure $1.5 billion loans and equity participation from the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for the project, now facing a financing shortfall of over Rs232 billion ($2.7 billion).
Separately, negotiations are already in advanced stages for finalisation of a $450 million (Rs39 billion) loan from the Exim Bank of China to bridge a huge financing gap arising out of over 296 per cent or Rs250 billion cost escalation.The contract for the project was awarded to a Chinese contractor (CGGC-CMEC) in Dec 2007. On the other hand, India planned to construct 18 hydropower projects along Neelum and Jhelum rivers, providing it with freedom to divert Neelum waters towards Wullar Lake in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty.

The Kishenganga hydropower project that has been challenged by Pakistan before the international court of arbitration could reduce river flows at Nauseri – the off-take point of Neelum-Jhelum project – by a minimum of 7 per cent and a maximum of 34 per cent, with an expected energy loss of 13 per cent of $141 million (Rs13 billion) per annum. This loss of capacity will be overcome through a 45MW additional power house at a diversion spillway.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by Prem »

Ek Naya Fuddhu

http://oilprice.com/Geo-Politics/Intern ... inues.html
On 8 December, with the headline "War Inevitable To Tackle Indian Water Aggression," Pakistan’s Urdu-language Nawa-e Waqt, issued such a screed.Nawa-e Waqt bluntly commented on India’s Kashmiri water polices and Islamabad’s failure up to now to stop New Delhi’s efforts to construct hydroelectric dams in Kashmir, “India should be forcibly prevented from constructing these dams. If it fails to constrain itself, we should not hesitate in launching nuclear war because there is no solution except this.”Potential nuclear war over water rights – such sentiments ought to light up switchboards from New Delhi to Washington.Needless to say, the fact that both India and Pakistan are nuclear powers is cause for concern.
Nawa-e Waqt is a privately owned, widely read conservative Pakistani Islamic daily with a circulation around 125,000 and is heavily critical of the U.S. and India. To put Nawa-e Waqt’s circulation in context, consider that the conservative Washington Times has a current estimated circulation of 50,000.So, what has the editorial board of the Nawa-e Waqt so excited?Indian dam building in the disputed area of Kashmir. Compared with much of South Asia, Kashmir has many rivers and relatively few people.Bashir Ahmad, a geologist in Srinagar, Kashmir commented grimly about the Indians’ future intentions, “They will switch the Indus off to make Pakistan solely dependent on India. It’s going to be a water bomb.” A more dispassionate report by America’s Senate last February offered still a similar assessment, noting, “The cumulative effect of (the dam) projects could give India the ability to store enough water to limit the supply to Pakistan at crucial moments in the growing season” before concluding that dams are a source of “significant bilateral tension.”How many dams and hydroelectric reports? The Senate report counted 33 hydroelectric projects in the border area, a number that Pakistani analysts nearly double to 60, which according to the state’s chief minister, Omar Abdullah, will add an extra 3,000 megawatts to the national power grid by 2019.Pakistan’s vulnerability is underwritten by the fact that, like Egypt it exists around a single great river, although the Indus is nearly twice the Nile’s size when it reaches the sea. The Indus provides water to over 80 percent of Pakistan’s 54 million acres of irrigated land, via a canal system largely built by the British.
A further potential diplomatic tar-pit is that Afghanistan plans to build 12 dams on the Kabul river with a combined storage capacity of 4.7 million acre-feet, which Pakistan frets will further diminish the Indus water supply, quite aside from the fact that Indian support for these dams will increase India's hydro-influence in the region.The Kabul River Basin (KRB) is the most important river basin in Afghanistan and contains half the country's urban population, including the city of Kabul. While New Delhi has not directly confirmed its support for the facilities, the proposed hydroelectric projects represent one of India’s largest assistance interests, with $1.3 billion invested in infrastructure projects.So, is there any way out before the missiles fly?
The 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT) between India and Pakistan can not only assist in easing tension, but provide a template for developing an Afghan-Pakistani agreement on the Kabul river. The treaty, which has survived three wars, explicitly outlines how both India and Pakistan can use cross-border rivers and deals in particular with the tributaries flowing from Kashmir to form the Indus.
The IWT is considered one of the world's most successful trans-boundary water treaties, as it addresses specific water allocation issues and provides unique design requirements for run-of-the-river dams, which ensure the steady flow of water and guarantee power generation through hydro-electricity. The IWT also provides a mechanism for consultation and arbitration should questions, disagreements, or disputes arise.
All foreign governments interested in avoiding further military conflict in South Asia should impress upon both New Delhi and Islamabad the ongoing value of their 51 year-old water agreement and urge them to resolve their conflicts within its framework.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by Theo_Fidel »

Jhujar wrote:Of the combined 55km length of the tunnel, about 18km is now complete, including eight smaller tunnels. The 32-km main tunnel, which is to divert Neelum waters from Nauseri to Chattar Kalas, has achieved about 4km progress.The mighty Neelum has already been diverted through smaller 500-metre diversion tunnel to dry out the riverbed for construction of 786-foot dam that is currently in progress
The first part is BS. the second part about 4 km of 35 in 8 years sounds about right. You don't build 18km of tunnels over 8 years and it not show up on Google Earth.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by SSridhar »

What is the credibility of the above piece when it starts with quoting Nawa-i-Waqt whose owner wants to be tied to the first nuclear bomb that would be dropped on India ?
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by SureshP »

Spiralling cost: PM reconstitutes Neelum-Jhelum project board
By Zafar Bhutta
Published: December 13, 2011

Image
Under the restructuring, chief secretary of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and a representative of the finance ministry have been made board members of the strategic 960-megawatt hydropower project. PHOTO: ROSHAN MUGHAL
ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has reconstituted board of directors of Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Company, a special purpose vehicle created for executing the project whose cost has escalated to Rs330 billion from Rs130 billion because of delay in work and modification in design after the 2005 earthquake, sources say.

Under the restructuring, chief secretary of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and a representative of the finance ministry have been made board members of the strategic 960-megawatt hydropower project.

The prime minister gave the directives for reconstituting the board during a briefing by the Ministry of Water and Power on the project at the Prime Minister’s House on Monday.

Water and Power Minister Naveed Qamar, Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Minister Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, finance secretary, water and power secretary, Economic Affairs Division secretary and other senior officials attended the briefing.

The project management highlighted the hurdles in arranging funds, but expressed the hope they would be removed with ease. Sources said the prime minister referred the issue of cost escalation to the finance ministry as two banks – one from China and one from Abu Dhabi – were reluctant to extend $180 million for the project.

In the briefing, Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Company Chief Executive Officer General (retd) Mohammad Zubair said the project cost escalated on account of interest on loans at Rs38 billion and depreciation of rupee against dollar from Rs45 to Rs86, increasing the cost by Rs45 billion. In addition to these, the cost went higher because of the rate of land acquisition and procurement of two Tunnel Boring Machines at a cost of Rs17 billion.

Zubair said after winning an arbitration case, the work on the project had resumed and would be completed in 2016.
He said the change in the project design, to shield it from earthquakes, caused a substantial increase in cost because it entailed massive additional civil works.

In the meeting, directives were issued that immediate steps should be taken to release machinery for Nandipur power project, which was stuck in Karachi despite the cabinet’s decision to revive the project by early next year.

In a bid to encourage potential investors, Gilani approved a one-window facility and boasted of his government’s performance which he said added 3,500 megawatts of electricity to the national grid.

He said the government would take up the issue of public sector enterprises, which had been making a big dent in the public exchequer for the last many years, in cabinet meetings. The problem of circular debt would also be dealt with to end unscheduled load-shedding.

The prime minister further said important and immediate decisions would be taken for liquefied natural gas (LNG) import which would be utilised to produce 2,200 megawatts of electricity.

Earlier, Kohala hydropower project CEO said work was progressing well and about 28 per cent work had been completed. The meeting also approved reconstitution of the board of directors by including relevant stakeholders.
http://tribune.com.pk/story/305660/spir ... ect-board/
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by SSridhar »

SureshP wrote:
Spiralling cost: PM reconstitutes Neelum-Jhelum project board
By Zafar Bhutta
. . .

Zubair said after winning an arbitration case, the work on the project had resumed and would be completed in 2016.
What 'winning' is he talking about ?
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by SSridhar »

Kishenganga: Pakistan is waiting for environment impact assessment report from India
The Pakistani authorities claimed that they have yet to receive a copy of an environmental impact report over the controversial Kishanganga Hydro Electric Power Project (KHEP) which has been submitted by the Indian authorities to the International Court of Arbitration (ICA).

Well-placed sources associated to Kamal Majeed-Ullaha, Adviser to the prime minister on water resources and agriculture, informed Daily Times that the Indian authorities submitted the document of environmental impact report over Kishanganga hydro project having installed power generation capacity of 330MW, however, Pakistani authorities yet to receive the copy of the document concerned.

Sources further informed that the delegation of neutral experts led by chief party of the ICA, Stephen Schwebel, would likely to visit the sites of both Kishanganga and Neelam-Jehlum Hydro Electric Power (NJHEP) projects having power generation capacity 330 and 969MW, respectively, at the end of ongoing winter season in 2012.

It was further revealed that after detailed review of the concise statements submitted by both countries addressing their concerns and reservations over controversial Kishanganga, ICA would be able to declare the final and detailed judgement at next expected date of hearing on August 2012.

However the document available with this scribe revealed the non-professional attitude of water resources managers on Pakistani side by the differential between the strength and professional ability of staffers from both sides.

A senior official in Indus Water Commission (IWC) on condition of anonymity alleged that some key officials in the Ministry of Water and Power following the said controversy seemed uninterested in performing extra efforts to resolve the controversy, adding that “basic negligence of the respective ministry is to depute non-experienced and its favourite staffers to face the international controversy, expressing reservations particularly over both key personnel Kamal Majeed-Ullaha and Shumaila Mehmood in this specific issue.

He further said that Majeed-Ullah does not have the adequate respective research-based qualification in water issues, similarly another human resource, Shumaila Mehmood, designated by senior legal consultant has no experience to argue the cases in international courts, official maintained.

Worth mentioning is that the Ministry of Water and Power hired the services of three foreign legal consultants to pursue the case against heavy service charges, while the members of Indian counsel in this case positioned from apex court of India as well as mostly senior officials having expertise on water issues fixed from Water and Power Ministry of India.

Even Pakistani panel did not have a single environmental expert to establish strong comments over the environmental impact report submitted by Indian authorities to defend their side over international trans-boundary controversy.

The first hearing was held at The Hague on January 14, 2011, when it was decided that Pakistan would submit its case to the ICA in May.

Bilateral negotiations on the KHEP were halted in April 2010, when India argued that the project had been initiated before the NJHEP.

While the project was kept on a top priority list in Pakistan’s 2002 Power Policy and was scheduled to be completed within six years, the government awarded the NJHEP to the Chinese Gezhouba Group of Companies in 2008. By that point, India had already been working on the KHEP for a year.
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by chaanakya »

Former PPIC Jamaat Ali Shah facing charges and put on ECL. Read here.
ISLAMABAD - The government has put the name of former Indus water commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah on Exit Control List (ECL) and stopped his remaining salaries and pension due to alleged serious negligence and failure to raise countrys concerns in time over the construction of much-debated Indian Nimoo-Bazgo Hydroelectric Project violating Indus Water Treaty (IWT).
Sources privy to the development informed TheNation that former Indus Water Commissioner (IWC) could not travel abroad as the Federal Government, in order to inquire about his alleged severe negligence in the construction of Indian Nimoo-Bazgo Hydropower Project, has included his name in the ECL now.
It is also learnt that an inquiry had been initiated against the former IWC who ostensibly could not raise the serious reservations and concerns of the country in time regarding much-controversial Indian hydropower project and on the basis of those charges
It is testimony of the fact that alleged negligence of the former Indus water commissioner has also been proved in the inquiry conducted by Secretary Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Muhammad Imtiaz Tajwar. Former Indus water commissioner did not pay proper heed to Indian project and it continued the work on the dam at a rapid pace. So it is possible that India would be able to operationalise the project. Water and Power Ministry has already given its approval on a summary the recommendations for an IWC seeking to approach International Court of Arbitration (ICA) against sheer violation of IWT allegedly committed by India in its much controversial Nimoo-Bazgo Hydroelectric Project and had sent the summary to the prime minister for final nod. The Indian government has so far not removed the five objections raised by Pakistan mainly on the pondage level, spillways, silt flushing outlet and others.

It is relevant to mention that a delegation headed by the Acting Indus Water Commissioner on October 2 visited the site of Nimoo-Bazgo Hydroelectric Project and found that Indus Basin Water Treaty 1960 was being violated. Nimoo-Bazgo Power Project situated at village Alchi, 70 kilometres from Leh in the Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, was initially planned to generate 45MW hydropower electricity.
Are they not able to find any new ideas/objections to raise? Just same old issues in every project. This shows that they have lack of expertise in these matters.This would be amply demonstrated when Kishanganga verdict is delivered sometime in second half of 2012 and morons would be claiming victory even in defeat .
chaanakya
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Re: Indus Water Treaty

Post by chaanakya »

Water vision, management: GoI ready to compensate IWT losses
JAMMU: As a first step in principally agreeing to pay compensation to the state on losses suffered on account of Indus Water Treaty, government of India has decided to fully fund the construction of Main Ravi Canal while as the state government has to bear only 10% of the project cost.

Pertinently the state government has taken into hand the construction of “Extension of Main Ravi Canal” after the Punjab government unilaterally terminated the Inter-State Agreement on Water Sharing and refused to adhere to the provisions of the agreement particularly in case of Jammu and Kashmir.

The state government, sources said, besides conveying to the Punjab overnment its displeasure, has informed the Punjab government about its decision of constructing the extension of the balance portion of main Ravi canal of the capacity of 1150 cusecs from Basantpur to upstream of Ranjit Sagar Dam under the name and title of Satwain project as the project has its origin in Village Satwian near the Dam.

Officials in the PHE and Irrigation department said that the government of India has not only endorsed the stand of J&K government, it has also decided to fund the project in lieu of the compensation to the losses suffered by the state on account of Indus Water Treaty.

“GoI is funding the project on 90:10 basis, that means the state has to arrange only 10 % of the project cost with 90% Centre share” Chief Engineer Ravi Tawi Verinder Bhadial told this correspondent. However, the central funding is subject to advance stage progress on the project. Elaborating this Bhadial said essentially the state government has to implement the project on ground, only then centre will release its share.

When contacted Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Taj Mohiuddin said that state government vide Cabinet Decision No. 14 of 2010 has given its node to the project. “ The project has already been formulated DPR of which has also been prepared and tendering of the project has also been completed” Taj said adding that the project has been submitted to the cabinet for allotment of tendered amount of 245 crores which shall be partly met by the state and central governments respectively. Taj confirmed that the Central Share will come in lieu of the losses of the Indus Water Treaty.

While delving on its historical background, Taj Mohiudding said, “ After partition, the water resources of British India were devided between the two nation states by Inter Dominion Agreement in 1948 by the two heads of the States allotting waters of Western Rivers viz Chenab Jehlum and Indus to Pakistan and Eastern rivers viz Satuj, Beas and Ravi to India”. He said the agreement was later ratified on September 19, 1960 in Karachi as Indua Water Treaty brokered by the World Bank.

Since all the rivers of Jammu and Kashmir were allotted to Pakistan, Taj said, need to compensate the losses of the state was felt by the government of India and as such the state was allotted .65 MAF water from Ravi while our pre-partition share was only .04 MAF raising the state share to .69MAF vide Inter-State Agreement reached upon between Northern states in 1955. However, the minter asserted, the benifits of the agreement could not be utilized till
early 1970’s and it was only in 1973 that the project of “Extension of Ravi canal “ was started and completed up to Basantpur.


In 1979 the then chief minister of Punjab Prakas Singh Badal approached his counterpart in J&K, Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah asking him to allow construction of Ranjit Sagar Dam which submerged 22 villages of Tahsil Bhasoli rendering 1.12 lac acres of agriculture land of erstwhile Kathua district without irrigation facilities. The Jammu and Kashmir state was entitled for 20% share in total power generation at Ranjit Sagar Dam and Shahpur Kandi Barrage at the cost of generation at Bus Bar. Unfortunately, Taj said, Punjab did not adhere to the provision of the agreement reached between Sheikh and Badal
in 1979.

At present J&K state is utilizing only 0.215 MAF through Kathua canal, Kerrian Gandial Canal and Basantpur Canal for irrigation suffering loss of 0.475 MAF.Non-availability of water resulted in potential utilization of 27,500 Acres only against the total potential of 1,33,200 Acres, while as the loss in terms of food grains stands at 250.00 crores per annum.

Taj Mohiuddin puts the losses on power generation from Year 2000 to Oct. 2009 at 2349 crores and food grain losses for last 25 years at 6250 crores which means that the state has suffered a total loss of 8599 crores due to violation. Now the J&K government has formally decided to take off Ravi canal from Upstream of Ranjit Sagar Dam for “Multipurpose Hydro-Irrigation Project” near village Satwian in District Kathua which is a dream project- a turning point in State’s economy from food deficient to foos surplus state.

It merits a mention here that on Ravi River, the earliest project built was the Madhopur Headworks, in 1902. It is a run-of-the river project (no storage envisaged) to divert flows through the Upper Bari Doab Canal (also known as Central Bari Doab Canal) to provide irrigation in the command area of the then unified India. Doabasformed by the Ravi River are known as the Rechna Doab – between the Chenab and the Ravi River, and the Bari Doab or Majha –
between the Ravi and the Beas River.

Government of India has assessed the pre-partition utilization in India (Punjab) as 1,476,000 acre feet (1.821 km3). The Hydropower potential of Ravi River system has been assessed as 2294 MW.[12] The hydropower potential developed since 1980s is through installation of Baira Suil Hydroelelectric Power Project of 198 MW capacity, the Chamera-I of 540 MW capacity commissioned in 1994, the Ranjitsagar Multipurpose Project (600 MW) completed in 1999 and the Chamera-II of 300 MW capacity in the upstream of Chamera-I commissioned in 2004.
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