Indus Water Treaty

[neeraj]

Pakistan writes to World Bank on concerns over Sutlej power project.

Even though the Sutlej is one of three eastern rivers awarded to India under the treaty, Pakistan has indicated to the Bank that Delhi should take its (Pakistan’s) views on projects coming on the eastern rivers.

Pakistan has no ‘locus standi’ on the issue, an official in India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) told HT.

“India is allowed to tap all 33 million acre feet of water from the eastern rivers,” the official said. “It still allows 3 maf to flow into Pakistan. Though the treaty even allows India to compensate for this 3 million maf with water from the western rivers, Delhi hasn’t thought in this direction”, the official said.

This is getting ridiculous now. Its time GOI uses the full potential of the treaty for India's benefit. GOI should expedite the works in progress to prevent the 3 maf from flowing into the land of the pure.

[neeraj]

Irsa acts to defuse water dispute

Irsa was now convinced that irrigation officials in both Sindh and Punjab were involved in water theft because losses between Chashma to Kotri barrages had increased to an unbelievable 50,000 cusecs.

The sources said that about 21,000 cusecs of water was disappearing between Chashma and Taunsa, 20,000 cusecs between Taunsa and Guddu and 9,000 cusecs between Guddu and Kotri.

Irsa believed that irrigation authorities sold water in large quantities to big landholders through tubewells and heavy motors. They said for this reason provincial officials were not providing accurate data of discharges to Irsa.

The sources said the Rs340 million telemetry system installed for collecting authentic data through computerised gauges had been made dysfunctional by design. here lies paki expertise

[arun]

Pakistan writes to World Bank on concerns over Sutlej power project.

Ratcheting up tension with India over water, Pakistan has gone to the World Bank in an attempt to block the 775 mega watt Luhri hydroelectric project being set up in Himachal Pradesh on the Sutlej.

Pakistan has accused India of not abiding by the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and wants all its water concerns to be addressed before the Bank goes ahead with the funding of this project.

“India is benefiting from the flow of eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej). However, the obligation by India with regard to western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) — the waters of which have been allotted to Pakistan — are not being met in letter and spirit of the treaty,” said the Pakistani government in its April 19 letter to the Bank.

Even though the Sutlej is one of three eastern rivers awarded to India under the treaty, Pakistan has indicated to the Bank that Delhi should take its (Pakistan’s) views on projects coming on the eastern rivers.

Pakistan has no ‘locus standi’ on the issue, an official in India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) told HT. {Snipped}

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan is certainly not modest in its sense of entitlement .

Never mind that the Luhri run of the river project is located on an “Eastern River”, the Sutlej, which is exclusively allocated by the Indus River Water Treaty to India, there is scope to whip up a sense of national victimhood when the claim is slapped down by the World Bank .

[ajit_tr]

from the link posted by neeraj above.....the real theft of water is going on with in pakistan itself as the following dawn article reveals that according to IRSA nearly 50000 cusec of water gets stolen between Chashma and kotri barrages...In the end to avoid friction between provinces this will be blamed on india.


Irsa acts to defuse water dispute

ISLAMABAD: With water theft between Chashma and Kotri barrages surging to a record 50,000 cusecs, the Indus River System Authority is expected to oblige Punjab on Friday by allowing it to draw 5,000 cusecs from the Chashma-Jhelum link canal to end a political deadlock over the issue.

The sources said that Irsa was now convinced that irrigation officials in both Sindh and Punjab were involved in water theft because losses between Chashma to Kotri barrages had increased to an unbelievable 50,000 cusecs.

The sources said that about 21,000 cusecs of water was disappearing between Chashma and Taunsa, 20,000 cusecs between Taunsa and Guddu and 9,000 cusecs between Guddu and Kotri.

Irsa believed that irrigation authorities sold water in large quantities to big landholders through tubewells and heavy motors. They said for this reason provincial officials were not providing accurate data of discharges to Irsa.

[Prem]

Former 71 POW, Editor of Def Magazine pitch in,
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.as ... 2010_pg3_5
The desire for peace –Ik ram Sehgal

Peace and good relations between Pakistan and India will remain a dream unless two core issues are sorted out. Kashmir has lingered for over 60 years for a resolution while the one now taking priority is the dispute over water. The water dispute directly threatens the very survival of Pakistan because of the continuing impasse over our access to water supplies from India. India effectively controls water flows into Pakistan that begin in Jammu and Kashmir and has commenced a string of ambitious water projects because of which disputes over water allocation have risen, adding further impediments to a resolution of the Kashmir dispute in the foreseeable future.
As per the agreement, the flow of these rivers into Pakistan can neither be stopped nor hindered. A few exceptions in the treaty do allow India to use the water for domestic use and generation of hydroelectric power, but precluding building of any storage thereon. However, India has commenced work on the Baglihar and two other controversial dams on River Chenab named Uri-1 and Uri-2. As far as River Jehlum is concerned, India has started construction work on the Kishanganga Hydropower Project. The resultant squeeze on these two rivers waters downstream will have grave and catastrophic consequences for the agriculture sector of Pakistan with the potential to drastically affect its economy. Moreover, should any dam malfunction or collapse, it will have grave consequences for Pakistan in the shape of massive floods in its areas. A greater perception is developing in the national print and electronic media to make our water rights a cornerstone of our foreign policy, water being the most vital issue for the national security of Pakistan.

Perhaps new and innovative areas of cooperation can be envisaged outside the treaty ( JUD and LET can build Dam and produce electricity for Pakistan) . Islamabad has suggested joint watershed management and joint commissioning of environmental studies that would address the emerging concerns arising from reduced flows.Gordon McKay, professor of Environmental Engineering at Harvard University, has written an excellent piece entitled ‘War or Peace on the Indus’ (The Daily Star, April 26, 2010), which gives honest and unbiased views from the perspective of one who is not a party to the dispute. He says, “Had Baglihar been the only dam being built by India on the Chenab and Jehlum, this would be a limited problem. But following Baglihar is a veritable caravan of Indian projects — Kishanganga, Sawalkot, Pakuldul, Bursar, Dal Huste, Gyspa...the cumulative live storage will be large, giving India an unquestioned capacity to have major impact on the timing of flows into Pakistan.
“This is a very uneven playing field. The regional hegemon is the upper riparian and has all the cards in its hands. This asymmetry means that it is India that is driving the train, and that change must start in India.” He then goes on to explain ways in which India needs to show a spirit of statesmanship to resolve this issue.

[neeraj]

More landslides may damage Attabad lake banks

ISLAMABAD: The small-scale landslides in some areas may break banks of incidentally formed large lake at Attaabad on the Hunza River and hinder the flow of water towards the spillway, recently constructed for controlled release of the water from the lake.

The sources has said that the further landslides are exacerbating the threat that the lake may burst its banks and result in submerging of many more villages along the Hunza River.“Landslides and rains can break banks of the lake and that would be a difficult situation for relevant departments which are already facing a daunting task of controlled release of water through the spillway,” they said.

Gulmit Bridge, an important connecting route between Gulmit, Goharabad and Shishk areas, is no more in use and rising water has submerged many houses, markets, a bank, hotels, fields and wood factories in the area.

The concerned authorities have also finalized a plan to protect the areas in case of water outburst in the lake including Dasu, Kozial, Kot Kamila, Seu, Kazpora, Sazin, Thothi, Harbin, Kairo, Khobal and Sri Gaigal. They also directed the provincial government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in the light of latest survey report to prepare contingency plan for Shangla, Mansehra, Kala Dhaka and Kohistan.

[chaanakya]

Hunza update

Due to safety considerations measurement of free board has been stopped from 24 May onwards, approximate free board is 4 feet. Expected time of over flow is likely between 28-29 May 2010.

[BijuShet]

From "The News" (posted in full)
India finalises two new projects on Chenab

Thursday, May 27, 2010 - By Munawar Hasan

LAHORE: India has given final shape to two new projects on the River Chenab with combined production capacity of about 2,000 MW, while one of them will have the ability to store water.

Karthai Dam is being developed in two phases on a tributary of Chenab. Besides, having storage component, it will generate 1,240 Megawatts, which is more than the capacity of Pakistan’s second biggest reservoir Mangla Dam that produces 1150 MW.

The first phase of Karthai Dam will have generation capacity of 240 MW. Most importantly, the Asian Development Bank is providing $800 million for development of this project being constructed on disputed territory under the Jammu and Kashmir Clean Power Development Investment Program. The category of the loan has been described as Energy/Large Hydropower.

The second project is 690 MW Ratle Hydropower Project. The Board of Directors meeting of Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation held on May 20 in Srinagar was informed that all necessary steps and procedural formalities were completed to kickstart the ambitious Ratle power project.

The tariff bidding process also stands completed under which the State of Kashmir will be able to receive just 15 per cent free power and additional one percent cost will be spent on the development of Kishtwar area where the Ratle project is located.

Similarly, 55 per cent power will be provided to the state from the project at the rate of Rs 1.44 per unit. The Ratle Power Project has been proposed for implementation in independent power producers (IPPs) mode through tariff based competitive bidding. GVK Power and Infrastructure Ltd bagged 690 MW Ratle Hydroelectric Power Project on March 10, 2010.

Indian Rs 50 billion worth of project will be constructed on the River Chenab, after its confluence with Marusudar River, in the Drabshalla area of Kishtwar district, Jammu & Kashmir. The contract is based on build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis under a 40-year concession period.

Speaking on the occasion, Held Kashmir Chief Minister Omer Abdullah stressed efficiency in the JKPDC so that the target of tapping 3,000 megawatts during the next four years may be achieved. The meeting was informed that JKPDC was fully geared up to execute all power projects on a fast track basis. The board also reviewed the ongoing construction work of 450 MW Baglihar-II power project.

The board was informed that work is in full progress and the JKPDC is determined to ensure completion of the project by 2012. The board also reviewed the progress of 93 MW Ganderbal Power Project.

Participants of the meeting include one Muslim bureaucrat, Economic Adviser to J&K Government, Jaleel Ahmad Khan, while all other officials including Chief Secretary J&K SS Kapoor, Principal Secretary PDD BR Sharma, Commissioner/ Secretary Planning BB Vyas, Director General Budget Ravi Mangotra, Director Finance JKPDC belong to minority in state.

The Indian government has eyed the Chenab valley, particularly Kishtwar district, for fully utilizing hydro and irrigation potential of Chenab River, which flows toward Pakistan. Meanwhile, when contacted, Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters Jamaat Ali Shah said his office was aware of the development about new projects being developed on Chenab River.

He said, as per Indus Waters Treaty, India was bound to provide the design of proposed project on western rivers to Pakistan at least six months before launching construction work. However, he admitted, in some cases, India failed to do so, terming it clear violation of treaty. “We are in touch with Indian Commission about execution of new water sector projects on the western rivers,” he said, adding he will definitely take up this issue with India vigorously.

[SSridhar]

From "The News"
India finalises two new projects on Chenab

Participants of the meeting include one Muslim bureaucrat, Economic Adviser to J&K Government, Jaleel Ahmad Khan, while all other officials including Chief Secretary J&K SS Kapoor, Principal Secretary PDD BR Sharma, Commissioner/ Secretary Planning BB Vyas, Director General Budget Ravi Mangotra, Director Finance JKPDC belong to minority in state.

That is the level of the 'ideological state of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan'. Note particularly the usage, 'minority in state'. Clearly, they are trying to cause dissensions here. What about the State's Chief Minister who is demanding even more power projects and who often talks of IWT being detrimental to the state ? The J&K Assembly even passed a unanimous resolution in c. 2002 calling for the abrogation of the IWT. Kashmiris have always felt that the IWT was against their interests and they derive no benefit at all. Aren't they Muslims ? May be they are 'less pious'.

He said, as per Indus Waters Treaty, India was bound to provide the design of proposed project on western rivers to Pakistan at least six months before launching construction work. However, he admitted, in some cases, India failed to do so, terming it clear violation of treaty.

Paragraph 9 of Part 3 of Annexure D of IWT states:
9. To enable Pakistan to satisfy itself that the design of a Plant conforms to the criteria mentioned in Paragraph 8, India shall, at least six months in advance of the beginning of construction of river works connected with the Plant
Obviously, India can and will start other activities (except construction of river works) such as road building, temporary structures for machinery, material and workers etc. well ahead. It is the 'actual works on the river' that India cannot and will not start. The terminology, 'launching construction work' is deliberately imprecise to paint India as a villain.

Again, Paragraph 10 states that Pakistan needs to convey any objections within three months and if it fails to do so, it is assumed that Pakistan had no objection and India is free to proceed with the works.

In some cases, where the project is identified as a 'Small Plant' where the water discharge through the turbies does not exceed 300 cusecs etc., the notice period is only two months.

The Pakistani side is deliberately being 'economical with truth' here.

[chaanakya]

Hunza update

, approximate free board is 2.4 feet.
 Expected time of over flow is likely between night 28/29 May 2010

[Gagan]

Tonight is the night when Pakistan's water problems get solved!

[chaanakya]

proposal for an alternative route for mutual trade between Pakistan and China-Aftermath of Hunza landslide

ISLAMABAD: A team of engineers would submit a proposal for an alternative route for mutual trade between Pakistan and China after initial study revealed that it would take more than two years to repair the Karakoram Highway, partially damaged after rising water level in incidentally formed large lake on Hunza River.

The sources said work on any alternative route for bilateral trade could be commenced some two or three months after release of water from Attaabad Lake that would enable the concerned authorities to have a clearer picture of the ground situation. The lake water has submerged or damaged a major 20-kilometre portion of the Karakoram Highway that led to blockade of traffic in the area.

The initial study carried out by a group of engineers showed that repair work on the highway would take a couple of years after which the high-ups directed for preparation of feasibility report for an alternative route.

The 1,300-kilometre-long Karakoram Highway or the N-5, originates from Hassanabdal and runs through Abbottabad, Mansehra on to Gilgit (through Bisham, Pattan and Sazin) and then to Chilas, Hunza and Sost before crossing the Khunjerab Pass. The sources further said the construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam in the Karakoram would affect more than 100 kilometres of the highway for which re-alignment studies were under way with the help of the Chinese engineers.

The Army engineers repaired the Karakoram Highway when some of its sections were badly damaged by the devastating 2005 earthquake, cutting off the road link between Pakistan and China.

Zameer Abbas, Assistant Commissioner and in charge of relief camps in Hunza Nagar, told this correspondent that the Karakoram Highway had been closed for every kind of vehicular traffic as the lake water was expected to reach spillway today (Friday) after which the overflow would begin, paving the way for controlled release of water.

Dismissing the chances of water outburst, he said the landslide blocked some one-and-a-half portion of the Hunza River and it was apparently out of question that water would force out of this huge amount of mud and debris.

He said they were quite optimistic that the spillway would greatly help release water after reduction of distance or free board area between excavation and water level in the lake.The local administration has shifted hundreds of families living in 400 tents at a relief camp in Faizabad area of Gilgit to Special Education Complex when experts raised fear that the area could submerge after the overflow in the spillway.

The data provided by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) showed that a total of 312 houses have so far been damaged by the rising water level in the lake in Ainabad, Shishkat, Gulmit, Hussaini, Sarat and Attaabad. The lake water also damaged 127 shops, five grinding mills, three furniture works and a hotel in these areas. Twenty-two trucks carrying 355 tents, 400 stoves and food items have reached Hunza on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. APP adds: The administration has prohibited entry into the lower areas of Hunza Nagar for two days as water from Attaabad Lake reached the threshold of the spillway.

A private TV channel quoting the Gilgit-Baltistan administration reported that any journey on the Hunza River was banned and so was the entry into Ganesh Bridge( can't forget their indic roots).The civil and army officials have started monitoring the spillway through satellite cameras. Sirens will be sounded half-an-hour prior to the outflow of water.

[ajit_tr]

Rhetoric grows heated in water dispute between India, Pakistan

Hydroelectric projects

Politics aside, experts say, Pakistan's water situation is reaching crisis proportions. As the population has grown over six decades, per-capita water availability has dropped by more than two-thirds. About 90 percent of the water is used for agriculture, making it an economic lifeline but leaving little for human consumption.

Inefficient irrigation and drainage techniques have degraded soil and worsened shortages, forcing many small farmers to pump for groundwater. A severe electricity crisis means most rely on diesel-powered pumps, but fuel prices are rising, said M. Ibrahim Mughal, head of Agri Forum, a farmers' advocacy group.

"You can't do agriculture without water," he said. "What will happen? Hunger."

The Indus Waters Treaty, which India and Pakistan signed in 1960, gave each country unfettered access to three rivers and limited rights to the other nation's rivers. A joint commission oversees the treaty, which water experts say has worked fairly well.

Cooperation has frayed as water has grown scarcer and India has stepped up new hydroelectric projects in Kashmir. Those plans have raised alarm in Pakistan, where newspapers and politicians regularly accuse India of secret designs to weaken its enemy by diverting water. Pakistan's Indus Water Commissioner, Jamaat Ali Shah, said his country believes that one proposed Indian dam on the Kishanganga, an Indus tributary, violates the treaty by making Pakistan's own plans for a hydroelectric project downstream unworkable.

"Candidness and transparency should be there. It is not," Shah said.

In a speech last month, India's ambassador to Pakistan, Sharat Sabharwal, said Pakistan has not detailed its complaints. Pakistan's water problems are attributable to factors including climatic conditions, he said, and blaming India was meant to "inflame public passions."

John Briscoe, a Harvard professor and former World Bank water specialist in Pakistan and India, said allegations of India's "water robbery" are unfounded. But because India could influence river flows into Pakistan, he said, the wisest solution would be for India to initiate talks and perhaps call for a permanent neutral party to implement the treaty.

"On the Indian side, the last thing I would want to come into India-Pakistan relations is an issue as visceral as water," Briscoe said. But, he added, "it's all about politics and political will."

[Theo_Fidel]

Tonight is the night when Pakistan's water problems get solved!

It has begun.

Dam has been over-topped.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=105665

My back of envelope calculation is about 1.2 MAF of water is going to come down that valley.

This is equal to about 6 Baglihars including dead level or about 40 Baglihars WRT to live capacity.

Tarbela should hold. Question is about the silt dam.

NASA image.



That is one tragic looking spillway. Courtesy Focus Pakistan.

[Gagan]

Wrt the Karakorum highway.
Major portions of the highway and bridges will be swept away when that dam on Hunza breaks. we are talking of a few hundred Km worth of roads being swept away either by the flood waters or the ensuing landslides due to the flood.

There is a small town called 'Ahmedabad' 8.5 Kms down stream which will be obliterated. further downstream about 14 kms from the Hunza landslide dam lie the towns of Faisabad, Altit fort, Karimabad, Sultanabad which again are going to be swept away by the wall of water that'll approach them.

Pakistan will be soon begging for aid by showing these images to the world, and use that aid money to build the alternate route of that karakorum highway. They need this highway to smuggle in missile parts and nuclear related smuggling from china. Chinese trade along this highway is minuscule as it is.

[Gagan]

If that landslide dam on the Hunza gives way all of a sudden, apart from 50 odd towns and villages, the city of Gilgit will see its low lying areas underwater.

The flood water is then going to go to chilas to the Bhasha dam site where construction was going on at a slow pace.

Tarbela is too far downstream to be affected much, except that a lot of water and silt will fill its reservoir, further damaging its storage capacity. Tarbela doesn't have desilting gates it seems - the pakis never had the foresight to build it into the design, they just blindly accepted what the world bank laid out. Even if Tarbela doesn't get damaged outright, its storage capacity will be affected, power generation will have to be stopped if there is too much silt coming in, to protect the trubines.

So both electricity and water crisis ahead for Pakistan.

[abhishek_sharma]

Indus Water talks today

http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/30/stories ... 120800.htm

[chaanakya]

India rubbishes Pak charges on water theft

Peeved at Pakistan's oft-repeated allegation that it is being deprived of its share of common waters, India on Sunday said such charges were aimed at diverting the attention of their people from their "own inefficient" use of the vital resource.

On the eve of the bilateral talks on water here, India asserted that it has never deprived Pakistan of its share of water, not even during wars and had no intention to do so ever.

"India has no intention of taking away water which may be rightfully theirs...We have demonstrated this even in the past. When relations were at nadir, when we were at war, we did not use water as a weapon to deprive them of their share," Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said.

On Pakistan's charge that India was "stealing" water, he said, "They are diverting the attention of their people from their own inefficient use of water... we have seen this in case of Baglihar (power project)."

His statement comes in the backdrop of Pakistan's threat to move the World Bank for arbitration over Kishenganga power project in Jammu and Kashmir, which it alleges violates the 1960 Indus Water Treaty as water would be diverted.

Pakistan is said to have appointed two arbitrators to contest its case, though it is yet to formally approach the World Bank.

Pakistan is also objecting to construction of two other hydel power projects -- Uri-II and Chutak -- in Jammu and Kashmir.

These issues are expected to come up for discussion during the meeting of Indus Water Commissioners here tomorrow.

Suggesting that India was ready to walk the extra mile, Bansal said, "Our effort will be to sort out the matter through negotiations...be it at a higher level also."

The 240 MW Uri-II hydel power project is being constructed on Jhelum river in Kashmir valley.

The 44 MW Chutak project is being constructed in Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh province and would harness the hydropower potential of Suru river.

The barrage of the project is located near Sarzhe village and the power house is proposed on right bank of river Suru near village Chutak.

Pakistan claims that the construction of the Chutak project would block 35,000-feet per acre water.

India maintains that there is no violation of the treaty and is expected to demonstrate this at the meeting.

Under the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan has exclusive right over three of the common rivers -- Indus, Jhelum and Chenab -- while India has exclusive right over Sutlej, Ravi and Beas.

PK does not have exclusive rights to three western rivers as use of waters of western rivers are clearly defined under the treaty.OTH IN does have exclusive rights to eastern rivers. when our journalists would learn even basics of factually correct reporting

[chaanakya]

Pakistan is getting extra water on the eve of IWT talks with India, thanks to intervention by nature

Spillway deepens due to fast erosion

Gilgit, May 30: Depth of Hunza Lake’s spillway has increased to around 14 feet due to fast erosion, according to information obtained from reliable sources. Erosion at toe of the spillway is relatively higher.

The volume of water passing through the spillway has reportedly increased to around 50 Cusecs.

Let’s remind the readers that around 350 Cusecs of water is already discharging from the lake through five active seepages. Hence the collective rate of water discharge is around 400 Cusecs.

First image of water reaching Hunza splillway

[Prem]

India assures Pakistan of addressing ‘legitimate’ water concerns
* Indian minister says New Delhi has no intention of taking away Pakistan’s water

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.as ... 2010_pg1_3
NEW DELHI: India on Sunday assured Pakistan of taking care of the country’s “legitimate” concerns on water, as both countries began a four-day joint meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC). India’s Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal told reporters on the eve of deliberations that New Delhi had no intention to deprive Pakistan of its share of water.“We never deprived them of water, not even during wars and have no intention to do so ever,” he said.A nine-member Pakistan delegation led by Indus Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah began talks on Sunday with the Indian Commission headed by G Aringanathan.The annual Indus Commission talks will exchange technical data on river flow, besides devising mechanism to exchange advance flood information during the monsoon season.Water Resources Minister Bansal claimed water woes in Pakistan were more due to its internal mismanagement and called for an end to blaming India for water theft.Intention: “India has no intention of taking away water which may be rightfully theirs...we have demonstrated this even in the past. When relations were at nadir, when we were at war, we did not use water as a weapon to deprive them of their share,” he said.The minister further said India “sets up a control room round-the-clock in the Indus Wing of the Ministry of Water Resources to share water flow data with their counterparts in Pakistan”. Bansal said the data was being exchanged as part of “goodwill gestures” and on humanitarian grounds.

“No costs are being charged to Pakistan for the collection and transmission of this data,” he added.Commenting on Pakistan’s charge that India was “stealing” water, he said, “They are diverting the attention of their people from their own inefficient use of water... we have seen this in case of the Baglihar (power project).”Suggesting that India was ready to walk the extra mile, Bansal said, “Our effort will be to sort out the matter through negotiations...be it at a higher level.”Pakistan has of late raised concerns at the construction of two more hydel power units, the Uri-II and Chutak projects. The 240 megawatts Uri-II hydel power project is being constructed on Jhelum river in the Kashmir valley.Meanwhile, despite Pakistan’s protests, India’s National Hydro Electric Power Corporation (NHPC) has said it was fast-tracking the 330MW Kishanganga project. It will be now completed by 2015, ahead of the January 2016 target. “We have already spent Rs 300 crore on the project and work is going on in full swing. We are getting the tunnel boring machine from Italy and expect the project not to face any delays,” an NHPC official said

[Prem]

Water conflicts between India and Pakistan —Amit Ranjan ( Another Jolawala, JNU Tatoo doing equal equal.)
India and Pakistan are equally responsible for damaging the spirit of the IWT. Pakistan wastes 35 percent of the water in its system. India is at fault because it causes misery when crucial spigots run dry because upstream water is stored at sowing season in Pakistan.
If needed, a few amendments to the treaty can be made but to revive or scrap the whole treaty will be a blunder. As mature nation-states both of them have to understand that the need is to resolve the contending issues and establish peace between them rather than add more problems in the already existing long list of disputes.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.as ... 2010_pg3_4

[Gagan]

Pak withdraws objection to two J&K power projects

In a significant development, Pakistan on Monday withdrew its objection to construction of Uri-II and Chutak hydel power projects in Jammu and Kashmir [ Images ].

At the Indus Water Commissioner-level talks in New Delhi [ Images ], the Pakistani side said it had no objection to the designs of the two power projects after the Indian side provided details of these, official sources told PTI.

Pakistan had earlier raised objections over the 240 MW Uri-II project being constructed on Jhelum river in Kashmir Valley and the 44 MW Chutak plant being built on Suru, a tributary of Indus river in Kargil [ Images ] district of Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh province.

...

The Indian delegation is led by Indus Water Commissioner G Ranganathan while the Pakistani side is headed by his counterpart Syed Jamaat Ali Shah.

This is for the first time that Pakistan has accepted the designs of power projects at the level of Permanent Indus Commission, sources said.

Earlier, it took a ministerial meeting to make Pakistan agree to Salal power project.

...

The two projects are in an advance stage and are likely to be completed by the end of this year.

India has been providing flood data to Islamabad [ Images ] since 1989 as a goodwill gesture. The flood data enables Pakistan to prepare and reduce damages in case of flash floods.

During the three-day talks, Pakistan is likely to raise certain issues regarding the Baglihar power project and the Nimoo Bazgo project of Jammu and Kashmir.

[Brad Goodman]

Pakistan, India close to deal on 2 power projects

Confirming that a consensus had evolved on the 250 megawatts Uri-II power project on Jehlum River, Pakistan Indus Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah told Daily Times that the issue was dealt with in the “spirit of cooperation and as a gesture of goodwill”.

What does this mean are we accepting paki objections?

India has agreed to permit the Pakistani Commission to undertake two tour inspections to Leh and Kargil in the first week of August.

[Venkarl]

What does this mean are we accepting paki objections?

Perfection ko improve karna mushkil hota hai

[SSridhar]

India & Pakistan resolve the Baglihar water filling issue

“We have resolved the differences on the initial filling of the Baglihar dam (in Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir) in 2008 in a spirit of cooperation and goodwill,” Pakistan's Indus Commissioner Jamait Ali Shah, who heads the country's delegation, told The Hindu here in an interview.

He said Pakistan felt the procedures and parameters in the Indus Waters Treaty were not followed during the initial filling of the dam, resulting in reduction of flows in the Chenab near the Marala headworks. However, during the talks, “India gave the assurance that it will be careful in future and Pakistan has accepted that in spirit of cooperation and goodwill.”

Sources on the Indian side confirmed that the issue was resolved but asserted that the “filling of the Baglihar dam was in accordance with the treaty and the differences were on the manner in which the water flows were measured.”

Clearly, the Pakistani PIC is using this to create an impression that Pakistan had been magnanimous and India did indeed err. This is for a future use against India by demanding India to be magnanimous in turn.

[SSridhar]

India, Pakistan can solve water issues with goodwill: Pakistan PIC Shah - Interview in The Hindu
Excerpts

What was the purpose of the latest meeting of the Permanent Indus Water Commission?

The basic purpose of the meeting was to prepare the annual report of the Commission for the year ending March 31, 2010 and also to chalk out the work plan, meetings and site inspections by either side in the future. It was decided that at least one meeting will be held in June-July in Pakistan and if need be, another meeting before next May will be held. Both sides also agreed that Pakistan will conduct a site inspection around August of the two Chutak and Nimoo Bazgo hydro projects in Leh and Kargil.

The meeting also saw India agreeing to provide 24 hours a day advance warning and flood flow information of the Indus river system between July 1 and August 10. Ravi, Satluj and Chenab are the main rivers of concern as they cause considerable havoc during floods.

Were you able to narrow down your differences with India on the three projects under discussion, namely Uri-II (Jhelum), Chutak and Nimoo Bazgo (both on Indus)?

Pakistan had certain objections to the design of the 240-MW Uri-II project on Jhelum which is almost near the Line of Control. Our objections were on the level of the gates and the sedimentation problem, for which we had not received in-depth information from the Indian side. The information tabled in this meeting and examined by the Commission's design engineers stands resolved.

In both Chutak and Nimoo, Pakistan had apprehensions over the design parameters with regard to parapet so that there is no overstorage. India agreed to Pakistan's suggestion of providing openings in the parapet of the Chutak project.

However, in Nimoo Bazgo Pakistan had six concerns on which India did not provide sufficient information. From Pakistan's point of view, some of the components violate the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty and need adjustments. The Indian side assured Pakistan that it will discuss our concerns and objections with relevant high-level experts and higher ups and give its view on the possibility of flexibility in a week. We have not lost hope for amicable resolution at the level of the Commission.

Does that mean Pakistan has withdrawn its objections?

As a matter of fact, no, although in certain quarters it was wrongly reported as such. We have not withdrawn our objections. Our concerns were discussed under Article IX (1) of the Treaty and supported by the information provided by India. And in a spirit of cooperation and goodwill, the Commission resolved matters pending for the last couple of years.

Baglihar was not on the agenda, but Pakistan raised it this time. What is the issue there?

When India carried out the initial filling of Baglihar in 2008, Pakistan felt procedures and parameters in the Treaty were not followed. There was reduction of flows in the Chenab near the Marala Headworks. India has assured Pakistan that it will take care of such elements in future and will devise a mechanism which is fool-proof in all future projects. The Indian side also accepted that there was slippage on their part. So differences that were pending resolution were resolved in the same spirit of cooperation and goodwill.

Sometimes questions are raised about the efficacy of the Indus Waters Treaty. What is your view?

The treaty has survived two wars. The Indus Water Commission has interacted more than 200 times since 1960. So this cooperation in letter and in spirit is for the betterment of both countries. We intend to benefit on both sides from the waters of the rivers we share.

Why, then, in recent weeks has Pakistan raised the pitch on water issues?

In its official capacity, Pakistan has never made such an accusation (against India). Even within a country, states have water disputes. When you have international water sharing, such things can happen.

Has Pakistan decided to ask for a court of arbitration on the Kishanganga project on Jhelum?

This project is now out of the purview of the Permanent Indus Commission.


Do you feel climate change is impacting water flow patterns?

Yes. Some regions are experiencing higher flows but in our region it is decreasing, especially during monsoon. There is a definite water stress in our region. So we should fully tap all existing water resources, conserve and preserve water sources on scientific grounds like use of sprinklers, drip irrigation and regulation of domestic water uses. When populations are growing and there is stress on food and fibre, there should be water management, conservation and preservation.

Has the Permanent Indus Water Commission helped matters?

The Commission should have the power or mandate with the help of technical advisors to resolve issues [at its level] and deliver results to the respective Governments instead of looking up to non-technical people.

[RamaY]

SSji

This shows paki modus operandi!

Make nonsensical statements
Use media to push their lies. DDM as well as phorein media is more than happy to hurt indian interests.
Use WKK brigade to create basic constituency ( for example Kuldip Nayyar's bulshit reaches vernacular media like teleugu in south)
Ignore yindoo facts and logic
Create a non-stateactor event
Force summit level handshakes. Make some non-binding and non-verifyiable promisses.
followup with low level babudom who are practically inefficient (look at the irrigation numbers of AP govt site, especially in view of Telangana movement)
clinch a deal in the sense that babudom will be morecareful.
Claim victory.

[ajit_tr]

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/pak-wont-obj ... ml?from=tn

Suhasini Haidar: There is a sense in India that Pakistan's accusations on water sharing have been unfair. That in fact it is even the Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who said that at least 33 per cent of Pakistan's problem with water comes from its own bad use of the water that flows into the country. How do you respond to that sense in India?
Syed Jamat Ali Shah: The management problem is everywhere. It is also in India, it is also in Pakistan, it is all over the world. But the present government has taken several steps, proactively and they have already started Neelam Jalam Hydro Electric Plant. The Bhasha Dam is to be started now. And more than 30 small dams are to be constructed within a few years.

But then neither india nor the world blame other countries for their own mismanagement of water as pakistanis do.

[SSridhar]

India, Pakistan differ on Nimoo Bazgo Project

India and Pakistan have resolved their differences over three projects that were pending resolution for two years, but the 45 MW Nimoo Bazgo project in Leh remained unresolved with Pakistan hinting at “further action” if India was not able to respond to its concerns.

. . . on the 45 MW Nimoo Bazgo project, the Pakistan side raised objections on six counts, mainly on the pondage level and silt flushing outlet.

“If India provides timely information, then things will fall in place and go for resolution. And if information is not provided to us, then India will have to provide it through arbitration. India should not hesitate to provide information, [only] then can there be convergence at the level of the Commission.”

India maintained that its initial filling of the Baglihar dam in 2008 was “as per the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty.” However, it has given assurance that in future, projects concerns of both the countries would be taken into consideration.

[RamaY]

What happened to the landslide? Did Pakis get enough water?

[SSridhar]

Pakistan's Indus Commissioner returns to Lahore and terms Delhi talks as unsatisfactory

Pakistan's Indus Water Commission team has returned from New Delhi dissatisfied with the information provided by the Indian side about the construction of new power projects on three rivers in Jammu and Kashmir that flow into this country.

Pakistan's Indus Water Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah told reporters in Lahore Wednesday that his Indian counterpart did not provide details about the dams being built on the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus rivers without taking into consideration Islamabad’s objections to the projects.

He said if India did not comply with the regulations of the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan might move an international arbitration court, Dawn reported Wednesday.

[Theo_Fidel]

Latest on the Landslide.

Courtesy Focus Pakistan



Any moment now.

[Aditya_V]

I think Pakis are overhyping this Landslide. Looks nothing will happen and the Karakoram Highway will be intact. and I dont think they have any M-9's in that area which can possibly be flooded.

[chaanakya]

What happened to the landslide? Did Pakis get enough water?

They are just about getting there.

According to latest information the water flow through spillway has increased to over 2600 Cusecs, as of mid-day June 3. Around 350 Cusecs of water is also seeping through the lake barrier, according to latest measurements made available to the press. The cumulative water discharge has increased to around 3,000 Cusecs.

Reportedly the water inflow in Hunza River has also increased to around 4500 Cusecs due to increased temperature.

Some Analysis by David Petley

[chaanakya]

I think Pakis are overhyping this Landslide. Looks nothing will happen and the Karakoram Highway will be intact. and I dont think they have any M-9's in that area which can possibly be flooded.

The lake outburst of 1858 thus destroyed the settlements along the basins of Hunza and Indus Rivers. After reaching Attock, the giant storm sent a reverse wave in the Kabul River beyond Nawshira. Prof Dr. Kenneth Hewitt, a prominent Canadian professor Emeritus of Geography in Waterloo University reflects:

“The 1858 flood wave was still massive at Attock. In fact it sent a reverse wave up the Kabul River about 50km. Reports after 1858 suggest the flood wave reached 10-20m above high summer flows along the Gilgit and Indus, and caused erosion of river terraces ‘100s of feet’ back from the channel.”

Taking into account the historical evidences, the current landslide lake on Hunza River reminds us of the historical lake’s landscape. This has occurred beside the previous site and blocked the Hunza River.

KKH is goner for two years at least. This is what their experts have reported to Mr 10% who asked for alternate route to china

[chaanakya]

India violating Indus water treaty: FO

ISLAMABAD: India is committing severe violation of the Indus water treaty, stated the Foreign Office Spokesman, Abdul Basit in a weekly briefing on Thursday.

Pakistan had not received any details of the recent meeting of the Indus water commissioner and it still held reservations about Indo-Pak water issue, he added.

He further said that there were differences between Islamabad and Washington over the drone attacks.

Shooting from mouth, FO as usual. Neither India bothers what PK says about IWT nor USA bothers What PK says about Dronacharyas.

[chaanakya]

Water team returns from India ‘dissatisfied’

LAHORE: The Pakistani team of the Indus Water Commission (IWC) returned from New Delhi on Wednesday ‘dissatisfied’ with the information provided to it by the Indian team about controversial constructions on rivers given to Pakistan under the Indus Basin Treaty.

Indus Water Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah told reporters here that the Indian side did not provide the required details about Kishen Ganga and other dams being built on the Chenab, Jhelum and Indus without taking into consideration Islamabad’s objections to the projects.

He said if India did not comply with the regulations of the water treaty, Pakistan might move the international arbitrary court.

He developed serious case of indigestion after the info was given. Just contrast his interview given to Chindu.

He says

In its official capacity, Pakistan has never made such an accusation (against India).

Here also he is , not making any accusation, its plain threat, who bothers.
IWT provides standard templates for information to be provided and they have not exactly come out in what way information was deficient in terms of IWT. That's why they are indulging in vaguespeaks only

[chaanakya]

Hunza latest

Hunza Lake water outflow exceeds 3,000 cusecs
Updated at: 1500 PST, Thursday, June 03, 2010

HUNZA: The overall water discharge from Attabad Lake has exceeded 3,000 cusecs, as water outflow causes erosion of spillway.

Chairman NDMA Lieutenant General (rtd) Nadeem Ahmad after an aerial view of Attabad Lake said that outflow from spillway has crossed 2,600 cusecs whereas seepage is at 400 cusecs. He said swift erosion of spillway could pose a threat.

Meanwhile, four houses have submerged in water in Gulmit and two in Shashkat. On the other hand, water flooded a relief camp in Shashkat Pine. Fifteen families are residing in the camp, which will be shifted to safer place soon.

Sporadic rain in district Hunza-Nagar is hampering rescue activities in the affected areas.

[Prasad]

The big picture blog on boston globe just put up a series of images from the Hunza landslide area - link

[ajit_tr]

Futile water wars

Pak will achieve nothing with its anti-India campaign on water
Business Standard / New Delhi June 07, 2010, 0:04 IST
Admittedly, the Pakistan delegation when in India did indicate a mellowing of its objections to some of the proposed hydro-power projects in Jammu and Kashmir. But, once back home, it harped again on alleged non-compliance by India with the Indus Water Treaty of 1960. It is also apparent that Pakistan has not learnt any lessons from the dispute over the Baglihar project, on which it sought neutral arbitration but received an adverse verdict. Otherwise, it would not have threatened to move for international arbitration on other projects in Jammu and Kashmir. Apart from the Kishenganga project, these include the 240 Mw Uri II project on the Jhelum and the Chutak and Nimoo Bazgo projects on tributaries of the Indus. All these are run-of-the river projects (i.e. without involving storage or diversion of water), in advanced stages of implementation.

The Indus treaty allows India to create water storage capacity of 3.6 million acre feet (MAF) on the three west-flowing rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — allocated to Pakistan. India has so far not built even a fraction of this storage. Also, much of the permitted 1.34 million acres of irrigation capacity is yet to be tapped. If any country has the right to complain, it should be India because the Indus treaty was based on the fundamentally flawed premise of dividing the rivers between the two countries, rather than distributing their waters. The three rivers given to Pakistan accounted for nearly 80 per cent of the total annual water flows of all the six rivers emanating from the Kashmir region and flowing to different parts of the sub-continent. India on its part has made this imbalance worse by failing to create the capacity to use or store the waters in the rivers allotted to it, so that Pakistan is also receiving the surplus flows of water in the three eastern rivers allocated exclusively to India.Pakistan has mismanaged its water economy even more than India. It receives an annual average of 139 MAF of water, which should be enough to meet its genuine needs. But its lower riparian state, Sindh, is deprived of adequate water due largely to the usurping of a larger-than-due share of water by the politically and militarily dominant state of Punjab. There is also mismanagement of water in Pakistan’s extensive but dilapidated canal network. Pakistan needs to realise, therefore, that escalation of tension with India on the water issue will achieve nothing, and could even prove counter-productive.