Indus Water Treaty

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 29 Mar 2013 20:51

pankajs wrote:
As I had suspected they are going to challenge the LLO/LLG design now!

That was already challenged in Baglihar HEP case. In KHEP it was DDF which was second issue.
With Award giving go ahead to construction of KHEP case is lost for Pakis, whatever else they want to believe.
We are pretty sure that with every dam plan they are going to raise the objection no matter what.
We need to learn lessons from Award and arguments , logic put forth in the award and implement it especially with respect to inititing and giving early clearances for projects under IWT. We need a setup which accelerates clearances from Indian Side and a separate financial arrangements , EIA , approval regime which stand scrutiny of international arbitration.
That is because of the existing use concept which has been made vague in the award.

nelson · Post by **nelson** » 12 Apr 2013 16:55

Brahma Chellaney while on his favorite theme of 'water-wars' ...

The Great Indian Water Folly

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 13 Apr 2013 04:49

Cant we claim the Daming of Brahmputra by China as a major unforeseen circumstances ?

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 13 Apr 2013 14:41

Kishanganga dam: Legal battle far from over

ISLAMABAD:

Although the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) has already announced its partial award on the controversial Kishanganga dam, the festering dispute is far from over.

Pakistan and India may soon enter a new legal battle if New Delhi doesn’t change the design of the hydropower project being built on the Neelum-Jehlum river in the disputed Himalayan region of Kashmir.

Sources told The Express Tribune that Islamabad has asked New Delhi to not restart the construction of the dam until differences over the project have been resolved either amicably or through the intervention of a neutral expert. They added that since India is noncommittal, Pakistan may be forced to approach a neutral expert earlier than expected.

Both legal and technical issues surrounding the dam remain unresolved. But while the legal issues will be removed once the ICA announces its final award in December 2013, technical aspects have yet to be put before a neutral expert.

Meanwhile, experts believe the process is being delayed.

According to an official of the ministry of water and power, Pakistan’s Commissioner for Indus Water Mirza Asif Baig had opposed the initiation of the process shortly after the conclusion of the ICA hearing in August last year. Baig recommended taking up the technical issues before a neutral expert after the ICA announced the partial award.

Other agencies, however, suggested that the process be started as soon as possible, given the time-consuming nature of the appointment of a neutral expert and since it was clear that the interim order would be vacated in the award and India would proceed with construction.

The matter was discussed again in an inter-ministerial meeting, where Baig insisted that the issue be taken up with the relevant Indian authorities and they be given an opportunity to clarify their position. Some participants suggested that an undertaking be sought from New Delhi, assuring that construction of the dam would not begin until the dispute is resolved.

On March 18, the Pakistani foreign ministry sent a letter to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad saying that unless the design of Kishanganga dam was modified, Pakistan would have to move to a neutral expert.

“The government of Pakistan requests to be informed whether the government of India has since reconsidered its position and is now willing to make design changes in accordance with the design criteria stipulated in the (Indus Water) treaty,” it stated.

In the letter, Pakistan maintained in light of ICA’s partial award, India could no longer justify the provision of deep orifice gated spillways in the dam’s design. “In this regard, a modification of the design is necessitated to ensure compliance of the criterion stipulated in treaty.”

India had previously taken the stance that the design of Kishanganga dam was consistent with the Indus Water Treaty. According to Baig, appointing a neutral expert will be necessary to resolve differences if India continues to maintain this stance.

India is still using delay tactics on this matter, despite the ICA’s award clearly stipulating that all matters between the two countries over the dam must be resolved bilaterally within three months or referred to a third party for resolution.

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 14 Apr 2013 10:38

Another all-EE: Sar Jalee
( Zarra Photu tho Dekho.Kaisee Tirshi Hain Akhiya: Jaise Mukh Pey Baitehy Makhiya)

Can the Indus become a catalyst for cooperation?

The Indus Waters Treaty is causing tensions between India and Pakistan. I am apprehensive how this Indus Waters conundrum will unfold in the future as the prevailing scenario is fraught with complications, especially for the lower riparian — i.e., Pakistan. It seems that going beyond the treaty is the only viable option and this is being debated across various forums, notwithstanding that the majority still believes that the treaty be given another chance and Pakistan stay within its parameters.
Pakistan is built around a single river system — the Indus Basin — and has gone from being a water-surplus to a water-distressed country over a period of time. This has been a consequence of its burgeoning population. While its population has ballooned like baboons, the scale of water in the single river system upon which the country is heavily dependent has remained the same, leading to a serious water crisis.Pakistan’s water security is under a series of unprecedented threats. This is due to inadequate and poor water management and climate change, which seem to have a profound impact on the problem of water scarcity. The Indus, which rises from the Himalayas, is unique in nature as it lies in the low-rainfall area. Hence, the pace at which snow is melting over the Himalayas can have disastrous ramifications for the water security of the country.So, what is the way out for Pakistan? It is, perhaps, pertinent to blame the Indus Waters Treaty for the water-stress we face, but doing away with the treaty will not do justice to it as it has survived three wars and stood the test of time. When the Indus Waters Treaty was signed — the 1960s — there was an abundance of water and climate change did not have an overwhelming impact on water flows. It is believed that the treaty was not drafted with a far-sighted approach as it failed to anticipate the repercussions that climate change could have, but that does not imply that the parties cannot stay within its ambit to resolve their water issues. The best possible option for Pakistan is to explore new areas of cooperation within the scope of the treaty. The treaty itself favours cooperation whenever a conflict emerges, as Article VII talks about “future cooperation”.Pakistan is facing serious interprovincial conflicts related to water that need to be addressed. These arose due to inequitable water sharing among the provinces and water shortages. The 1991 Indus Waters Apportionment Act was designed to ensure even-handed sharing of the Indus waters among the provinces. Despite this accord, there are endless disputes on water amongst the provinces. Pakistan needs to work towards fixing these disputes in order to combat water scarcity and to ensure equal supplies of water to all provinces. The Indus River System Authority (IRSA), under the IRSA Act of 1992, is responsible for the distribution of water among the provinces, and the state is responsible for ensuring equal water supplies. If it fails to do so, Article 155 of the Constitution gives the right to the aggrieved party to take the matter to the Council of Common Interests. Water crises can be addressed if we fix our internal shortcomings. This can be achieved if we follow the 1991 Accord in letter and in spirit, enhance IRSA’s technical capabilities and ensure that it penalises petty water thefts.It is important to realise that we cannot operate outside the framework of the Indus Waters Treaty. This has been pointed out by David Lilienthal, former chairperson of the Tennessee Valley Authority. On his visit to India and Pakistan, he proposed that both work out a joint programme to develop the Indus River Basin System. He highlighted that the water resources of the Indus Basin should be used to promote its economic development. Notwithstanding that, both countries are determined to solve the issue of the use of the Indus Basin’s water resources on a political plane instead of a functional one. Presently, Pakistan has two options: to adhere to the treaty or look into the options of revising it. We need a far-sighted approach. If Pakistan manages to take the water crisis in its stride, a bridge could be built over the troubled relations with India.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 14 Apr 2013 13:51

^^

Pakistan is built around a single river system — the Indus Basin

Well well I thought this wretched country was built around Islam? Whatever happened to that Idea.

It is important to realise that we cannot operate outside the framework of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Presently, Pakistan has two options: to adhere to the treaty or look into the options of revising it. We need a far-sighted approach. If Pakistan manages to take the water crisis in its stride, a bridge could be built over the troubled relations with India.

I think they should take the option of revisiting it or abrogating it altogether. That way they can declare war on us and would have at least get one opportunity for few more lessons of a lifetime.

kish · Post by **kish** » 28 Apr 2013 22:14

Late Sunday evening laughter therapy for BR members.

[url=httpxxx://www.hydroworld.com/news/2013/04/27/indi ... again.html]Indian water terrorism highlighted, once again[/url]

The issue of water scarcity in Pakistan in the coming years was, once again, highlighted at a seminar in the first week of the current month in the federal capital. Various water and agriculture related organisations and water experts attended the programme and warned in their presentations that the unchecked construction of run-of-the-river hydro-electric projects by India on Pakistan's rivers posed an existential threat to the country.

The representatives of the Punjab Water Council (PWC), Farmers Associates of Pakistan (FAP), Research Institute of Natural Resources of Pakistan (RINP), and Water Resources Development Council (WRDC) participated in the crucial seminar. They discussed in detail the future impact of the Indus Basin Water Treaty of 1960 on the water availability to the farmers, in the light of the decisions on the Baghlihar and Kishanganga Hydroelectric Projects of India.
Though they interpreted the Treaty in different ways, they all were unanimous on one point that there was an urgent need to develop a larger base of legal and technical expertise on the issue, so that the future developments are addressed through domestic human resource. They stressed the need for keeping a watchful eye on the developments planned by the upper riparian, India.
The attitude and actions during the past decades clearly shows that violation of the Indus Basin Treaty is in line with India's national policy of backtracking from its pledges and breaking international agreements and defying the UN . It seems India intends to complete its water denial plan to Pakistan by 2016 (Ebil yindoos, Water Denial Plan?)after which Pakistan will get deprived of its share of water. Pakistan's condition will become worse than Somalia and Ethiopia , the two drought-ridden countries. And if India opens the gates of these illegal dams, it can sink Pakistan within 48 hours, believe water experts .
In 2011, India released 80,000 to 100,000 cusecs of water after its dams were filled and could no longer accommodate additional water. On August 16, 2011, India spilled more than 70,000 cusecs of additional water into River Sutlej without prior information to Pakistani authorities, inundating dozens of villages in Ganda Singhwala area of Kasur district, which caused billions of rupees losses to the farmers of the area. Water experts say that New Delhi, in sheer violation of the Indus Water Treaty, released more than 70,000 cusecs of water into River Sutlej on the Pakistani side, which raised its level to an alarming extent and washed away dozens of villages in Kasur after creating an emergency flood situation in the entire area.
The participants in the April 2, 2013, seminar reiterated that the issue should be taken up at all world forums of environment, ecology, human rights and poverty alleviation(pakisatan is a failed state because of Indian water terrorism onlee). The future government, formed after the May 11 elections, should be proactive in its role to protect the water rights of the country and also be mindful of the various forums in the country, funded by foreign think tanks to mould public opinion.
The experts told the seminar that the Kishanganga Hydroelectric Plant would divert a portion of the Neelum River from Pakistan, which will reduce power generation at the Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Plant of Pakistan. India claims the project will divert 10% of the river's flow while other estimates stand as high as 33%. Nevertheless, water flow below the Neelum-Jhelum Dam, in Pakistan's Neelum Valley, is expected to be minimal as both projects are diverting water to the Jhelum River. This has the potential to have adverse impacts in the Neelum Valley.
The water experts also regretted the fact the successive governments in Pakistan have failed to protect the country's water rights on the three rivers, Indus, Jhelum and Chenab on which the country has exclusive rights under the 1960 Treaty.
Pakistan, in the past, moved various world forums, though no favourable result could be obtained for various reasons(What could be those 'various reasons'?). In 2010, Pakistan appealed to the Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration (CoA), complaining that the Kishanganga project violates the Indus River Treaty by increasing the catchment of the Jhelum River and depriving Pakistan of its water rights. In June 2011, the CoA visited both the Kishanganga and Neelum-Jhelum projects. In August 2011, they ordered India to submit more technical data on the project.
In a talk with the writer recently, Hafiz Zahoorul Hassan Dahar, the chief coordinator of the World Water Assembly, warned that Pakistan is about to become barren because of water terrorism on the part of India. He believes that India has launched a water war against Pakistan(Water War? ) by blocking the water of rivers like Chenab, Jhelum, Indus and their tributaries coming to Kargil from Occupied Kashmir. It is obvious that the third world war will take place on water.
Experts say with the climate change and, as a consequence, shrinking water availability across the Middle East, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, violent conflict between states is increasingly likely. It has been estimated by the experts that by 2025, more than two billion people are expected to live in countries that find it difficult, or impossible, to mobilise the water resources needed to meet the needs of agriculture, industry and households. Population growth, urbanisation and the rapid development of manufacturing industries are relentlessly increasing demand for finite water resources. Symptoms of the resulting water stress are increasingly visible. In northern China, rivers now run dry in their lower reaches for much of the year. In parts of Pakistan and India, groundwater levels are falling so rapidly that from 10% to 20% of agricultural production is under threat.
The only way to stop this water war in the Subcontinent region is to restrict India from constructing dams on Pakistani rivers and blocking their water. Dahar feared that India could drop a water bomb on Pakistan in terms of drought and famine(Seriously pakis, can't u think beyond terrorism, war, bomb, IED, etc) after the completion of its dam projects.
According to information available on various official websites, India has ventured upon an ambitious plan worth $120 billion to divert waters of Jhelum, Chenab and Indus flowing from north to south(wow, $120 billion. Where did that come from?). So far, it has built 65 dams and headworks, but has plans to build a total of 300 small and big size dams so to get total control over the three rivers. It is constructing a 3,800-km long canal (I did not make this up. It is in the article) in order to divert water from River Indus to River Sutlej. This project will be completed by 2014. In addition, construction of series of canals measuring 14,000-km is also in the pipeline, which will help connect 14 rivers of India. Since 2008 onwards, Punjab's crops are getting severely damaged due to water shortage, caused by the Baghlihar dam.
According to latest reports, India, with no end to its water terrorism against Pakistan, has now managed to coax Afghanistan to build dams over River Kabul and has offered its full assistance. The Hamid Karzai government has planned to set up Kama Hydroelectric Project using 0.5MAF of Pakistan water. This would further worsen the water problem of Pakistan.
On the other hand, India has, it appears, full backing of the USA, the UK and Israel as well as the Western world, as none of them has ever taken notice of this pitiless form of terrorism against humanity(paki==humanity ). Among a host of coercive tactics applied by India, with the help of various world powers, water terrorism is one of the most cruel forms to overawe Pakistan and break its will to resist.

sanjaykumar · Post by **sanjaykumar** » 28 Apr 2013 23:14

Arre bhai India is guilty of not sharing condom making technlgy onlee.

saip · Post by **saip** » 28 Apr 2013 23:31

I thought the above article is from a paki website. But it looks like a regular magazine. How did such blatantly false report get published? There are no pakis in its editorial board.

skaranam · Post by **skaranam** » 29 Apr 2013 15:26

saip wrote:I thought the above article is from a paki website. But it looks like a regular magazine. How did such blatantly false report get published? There are no pakis in its editorial board.

The source for the article is Pakistan. In the original article, the copyright is with

Copyright 2013 Plus Media Solutions Private Limited
All Rights Reserved

check out lexis nexis...we can the source for this media house is Pakistan....

http://w3.nexis.com/sources/scripts/info.pl?401133

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 21 May 2013 06:57

India seeks clarificaion on Kishenganga order - Gargi Parsai, The Hindu

India has moved the Court of Arbitration at The Hague for “clarification” or “interpretation” of the its order delivered in February on its dispute with Pakistan over the 330 MW Kishanganga project under construction in North Kashmir.

In the order, the Court does not permit New Delhi to use the modern “draw down” technique for removal of silt deposits in run-of-the-river dams on rivers allocated to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960.

On the last day on Monday of the three-month period for India to seek “clarification”, India said the order should be amended to make it “project-specific”. In the case of the Baglihar dam — another run-of-the-river project — the neutral expert appointed by the World Bank had accepted this state-of-the-art technique for removing silt and sedimentation from the reservoir, India maintained.

The “draw down” technique requires depletion of reservoirs below the “dead storage level”, on which Pakistan had reservations as, it said, it allowed India to regulate the waters.

In its second part of the order, the Court held that “except in unforeseen emergency” the Treaty does not permit India’s reduction below “dead Storage Level’’ of the water in the reservoirs of run-of-the-river plants located on rivers allocated to Pakistan.

“The ruling does not apply to plants already in operation or under construction,” the Court chaired by Judge Stephen M. Schwebel said.

In its partial award delivered in February this year, the Arbitration Court, however, upheld the legality of India’s right under the treaty to divert waters from Kishanganga /Neelam river (a tributary of Jhelum) to Bonar Nallah, also a tributary of Jhelum for the Rs.3,600-crore Kishanganga hydro-electric project in Baramullah district.

The Court, however, held that India will have to maintain a minimum flow of waters in Kishanganga at a rate which will be determined by the Court in its final award, expected by the end of the year.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 07 Jun 2013 19:12

Pakistan Indus Commission team undertakes inspection in J&K

New Delhi: A team of Pakistan Indus Water Commission made a quiet three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to inspect the various projects being undertaken by India over Indus basin rivers as part of an annual exercise.

The team, led by Pakistan Indus Commissioner Asif Baigh, inspected the Wullar barrage and later visited the 330 MW Kishenganga power project earlier this week.

The Pakistani delegation today left for their country.

India and Pakistan are engaged in an international arbitration at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague. While the court has given a partial award favouring New Delhi, its final order will be issued later this year.

The team, accompanied by Indian officials, also inspected the existing water level in the river Jhelum.

The team from Indian side is slated to visit Pakistan in September this year, sources said.

At the time of independence, the boundary line between India and Pakistan was drawn right across the Indus Basin, leaving Pakistan as the lower riparian.

A dispute arose between two countries regarding the utilisation of irrigation water from existing facilities. Negotiations held by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), culminated in the signing of Indus Waters Treaty in 1960.

The annual visits are part of the provisions of the treaty.

Out of the six rivers in the Indus basin, India has exclusive rights over the waters of the three major Eastern rivers -- Ravi, Beas and Sutlej before they enter Pakistan, while Pakistan has rights to three large Western rivers that first flow through Jammu and Kashmir -- Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.

PTI

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 20 Jun 2013 08:20

India-Pakistan granted more time to file submissions on Kishenganga - Gargi Parsai, The Hindu

India and Pakistan have been granted a two-day extension for filing their submissions on the additional information sought by the Court of Arbitration in The Hague on the dispute between them over the 330 MW Kishanganga hydroelectric project, which is under construction in Baramullah district North Kashmir.

The extension was sought by Pakistan, highly placed sources told The Hindu . Both the countries were supposed to file their submissions by Wednesday.

Pakistan had objected to India diverting waters of a tributary of the Jhelum for the Rs. 3600-crore project, saying that water-flows to their downstream Neelam-Jhelum Hydroelectric Project would be affected. The Court had asked them to provide power generation and agriculture data on their project.

In its order in February, the Court asked India to provide statistics on power generation at the Kishanganga project as well as provide information on environment concerns at the dam site in Gurez. {IMHO, the CoA has no jurisdiction to seek information on environment concerns within Indin territory} India, sources said, was ready with its submissions. At the same time, the Court had asked Pakistan to provide information on the power generation at the Neelam-Jhelum project.

Last month India sought “clarification” from the Court on the modern drawdown technique for silt removal in run-of-the-river projects. The Court restrained India from using the technique on its projects on rivers allocated to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960. The “draw down” technique, which Pakistan has reservations about, requires depletion of reservoirs below the “dead storage level.”

In its partial award delivered in February, the Arbitration Court upheld the legality of India’s right under the treaty to divert waters from Kishanganga /Neelam river (a tributary of Jhelum) to Bonar Nallah, another tributary of the Jhelum, for the Kishanganga project.

The Court, however, held that India would have to maintain a minimum flow of waters in Kishanganga at a rate that would be determined by the Court in its Final Award, expected by the end of the year.

The Court is chaired by Judge Stephen M. Schwebel of the United States.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 30 Jun 2013 15:27

Indian hydel project in Lahaul-Spiti will regulate Chenab’s flow to Pakistan

The stalled 300 mw Jispa hydroelectric power project in the cold desert of Lahaul and Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, is all set to be revived as resistance to it from local villagers is weakening. The construction of the dam will help India regulate the flow of Chenab's water to Pakistan and give India its share of 1.7 million acre feet (MAF) of water as part of the Indus Water Treaty signed in 1960. The water is now flowing to Pakistan unregulated because of the absence of the dam.

The storage dam, rising to 200 metres in height and located at more than 10,000 feet above sea level, will work as a feeder dam and also regulate water flow downstream throughout the year. At present the water flow gets reduced during winter because of frozen conditions. The dam will help 20 odd hydroelectric projects in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu Kashmir to generate electricity. Chenab has the potential to produce 3,000 mw of electricity in HP alone, but remains unutilised. The regulated water flow is unlikely to attract any opposition from Pakistan because of the treaty.

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 30 Jun 2013 22:21

This proposed dam is North of the Rohtang Pass

Pranav · Post by **Pranav** » 01 Jul 2013 09:18

SSridhar wrote:India seeks clarificaion on Kishenganga order - Gargi Parsai, The Hindu

India has moved the Court of Arbitration at The Hague for “clarification” or “interpretation” of the its order delivered in February on its dispute with Pakistan over the 330 MW Kishanganga project under construction in North Kashmir.

In the order, the Court does not permit New Delhi to use the modern “draw down” technique for removal of silt deposits in run-of-the-river dams on rivers allocated to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960.

On the last day on Monday of the three-month period for India to seek “clarification”, India said the order should be amended to make it “project-specific”. In the case of the Baglihar dam — another run-of-the-river project — the neutral expert appointed by the World Bank had accepted this state-of-the-art technique for removing silt and sedimentation from the reservoir, India maintained.

Am totally convinced that the sediment issue is not a big deal, even staying within provisions of Indus treaty.

A very basic, low cost cutter-suction dredger can remove about 1 ft of sediment every day from a 1 hectare area, which seems very adequate capacity to control sediment in the vicinity of the turbine intake.

Here is a link, which I may have posted earlier - http://www.piranhapump.com/industrial_dredges.html (there is a video on that page)

For a dam reservoir, it is possible to use the water pressure itself to power the equipment, using a small opening in the dam wall at the level of the reservoir bed. Such openings are explicitly permitted. You don't need to draw down the water level.

Have no idea if the Indus Commission / Ministry of Water Resources is considering this approach.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 11 Jul 2013 02:25

India starts building 850MW Ratle Dam on Chenab.

ISLAMABAD: In an another blow to Pakistan's water interests, India has started constructing the Ratle Hydropower Dam project with a capacity to generate 850MWs of electricity on Pakistan's Chenab River, in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Pakistan has already objected to this dam, which will be three times larger than the Baglihar Hydropower Dam. Mirza Asif Baig, Commissioner of Pakistan Commissionof Indus Water, confirmed that India had planned to construct the Ratle Hydropower project on the Chenab and Pakistan's side had objected to the project saying it was a sheer violation of the provisions of Indus Waters Treaty 1960.

"We have come up with strong objections to the design of the said project in a meeting with India at the Permanent Commission of Indus Waters (PCIW) level," Baig said and vowed that in the future meeting at the PCIW level, he would continue to oppose the said project as its design violated the Indus Waters Treaty.

Senior Pakistani lawyer Ms Shumaila Mehmood, in the case of Kishenganga Hydropower project, said though she was aware of the development but it was the PCIW which dealt with the projects constructed by India on Pakistani rivers at earlier stages.

India has already carved out a plan to generate 32,000MWs of electricity on Pakistani rivers and will be having the capacity to regulate the water flows that are destined to reach Pakistan. So far India has built Dalhasti hydropower project of 330MWs, Baglihar of 450MWs and now it has started a new project named Ratle Hydropower project.

On the Neelum River that joins the Jehlum River in Pakistan, India has already completed Uri-1, Uri-II Hydropower project and is also close to completing the Kishenganga Hydropower project. So much so, it has also built two hydropower projects on the Indus River that include Nimmo Bazgo and Chattak hydropower project.

Sonia Gandhi, along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, laid the foundation stone of the 850MWs Hydro Electric Project on the Chenab River in the Kishtwar Tehsil of Doda district of the Indian-Held-Kashmir just a few days ago.

This is the first time that both leaders have jointly laid the foundation stone. The electricity to be produced from the project will be injected into the national grid of India that will then be sold to Pakistan (heh heh heh Evil Yindus).

Former Wapda chairman Shamsul Mulk said that Pakistan needs to develop water uses in its all rivers by building water reservoirs to prevent India from constructing the hydropower project. "Once Pakistan develops its water uses, then it can argue at any international court that India cannot build its project by injuring committed flows of Pakistan."

He said that there was a strong lobby of India in our country which did not want Pakistan to develop water uses.However, when this horrifying development surfaced, an eminent water expert Arshad Abbasi had sensitised the-then Minister of Water and Power Dr Mussadik Malik, who is now the special assistant to the PM on powers sector, about this alarming development but he did not respond as expected from him. Rather he was an advocate for import of electricity from India.

Dr Mussadik was asked to probe as to who had cleared this project from Pakistan's side but he didn't do so. However, Engr Safiq, who is also an eminent water expert, came down heavily on Dr Mussadik saying he is dual nationality holder and is holding a too-much important post and is an advocate of importing electricity from India (YYY conspiracy onlee!!!!) and asked where the security agencies were. He said that Pakistan's water sector had become dysfunctional.

According to our sources, the Ratle project envisages harnessing the hydro-power potential of the river from EL 1000m to EL 887m. This is a concrete gravity dam at a height of 170m, will be built across the river just downstream of the Ratle village and an underground power house with an installed capacity of 4X140MWs is proposed near Juddi village, both in Doda district. The main project will generate 2,483.37 Million Unit of Electricity at the rate of Indian Rupee of only 1.22 per KWh (Major Heartburn there at the cheap electricity that India will produce).

After meeting of Arshad Abbasi with Dr Mussadik Malik, a brief paper including measures to check the enforcement of Indus Waters Treaty in letter and spirit (heh heh Pukis reduced to desperate moral play as legally they cant prevent the setting up of this plant) was sent to Mussadik, but Musadik preferred playing his role in releasing funds for the IPPs, a more lucrative task for him.

Surprisingly, the former interim minister is an adviser to the current regime, and is only advocating importing electricity at Rs16 per unit. Even though he had been briefed about the 1,460MWs Tarbela Dam Extension VI project, he still preferred to advise the government to import electricity from India.

When contacted, Dr Mussadik Malik said: "Yes I was briefed about Indus Water Treaty issue. However, I focused on the power sector keeping in view the crippling power outages. Now after completing my assignment on power sector, I will pay heed to the water sector."

He said that the government had planned to develop five dams so that for five times, cheaper electricity on water flows could be produced on one main river (jinn Power and technology) and more importantly the per capita water availability could be raised to a reasonable level, which now stands at 1,000 cubic metre per person.

About the Rattle Hydropower project, he said that the PCIW is the department which deals with such issues.

Meanwhile, in a letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Abbasi requested to demand EIA (environment impact assessment) report of Ratle Hydroelectric power project (Pukis talking about environment

).As the land proposed for this project is mostly thick conifer forests, deforestation will have a terrible impact on the river water yield in the future and the victim will be only lower riparian) i.e. Pakistan (A whore who otherwise doesnt tire tom-toming about its Strategic location is only a lower riprarian!!!!!!).

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar has said that the government accords top-most priority to the construction of water reservoirs and would focus all its attention on rallying finances for the construction of Diamer-Bhasha Dam.

Talking to a delegation comprising the heads of Missions of European Union Members here on Tuesday, Senator Ishaq Dar said.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 14 Jul 2013 12:44

Don't jump into Pak power deal

Vivek Katju | Mail Today | New Delhi, June 19, 2013 | UPDATED 09:05 IST

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's brother, the influential Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab Province, Shahbaz Sharif, met with a team of Indian officials from the Ministries of Power, Petroleum and Natural Gas and executives of Public Sector Undertakings connected with electricity and gas sectors at Lahore earlier this week.

The Secretary to the Department of Power and Energy of our Punjab state was also present at the meeting. Shahbaz Sharif told the officials that cooperation in the economic sector between the two countries was the key to development of the two countries.

He identified trade, investments, industries, education and health as sectors where India and Pakistan cooperation would benefit both countries.

Shahbaz Sharif was articulating a position which India has urged upon Pakistan since decades; hence, what the Chief Minister said can only be welcomed.

Also, the Sharif brothers, with their background in industry and business have for long advocated that economic and commercial relations should be normalised between the two countries. They were held back earlier by the Army. However, today Pakistan is confronted with a very critical economic situation and a crippling power crisis. The Army has little choice but to go along with the Sharif brothers in their serious attempt to buy electricity and gas from India.

While discussions between the two countries for the sale of 500MW of electricity and for this purpose constructing a transmission line between Amritsar and Lahore and of 5 million cubic metres of gas through the construction of a pipeline between Jalandhar and Jallo in Pakistan have been going on since these subjects figured in the Commerce Secretaries talks in 2011 they have now acquired a salience and urgency for Pakistan.

The Sharif brothers have to act quickly to improve the power situation which is impacting extremely adversely on Pakistan's industry and agriculture and leading to popular misery in these summer months.

Questions

It is likely that Nawaz Sharif would have raised this issue with Prime Minister's Special Envoy and Sharif's old friend Satinder Lambah who was sent by Dr Manmohan Singh to meet him last month even before he was sworn in.

Dr Singh's response has been positive and swift. Multi ministry teams are not put together with such alacrity unless there is a compelling directive straight from the Prime Minister himself.

India and Pakistan must engage positively and energetically in all areas that are connected with the welfare of the two peoples. Clearly cooperation in trade, agriculture, health, environment among others needs to be pursued vigorously so that concrete results can be achieved.

However, several questions arise with regard to the present proposals with regard to electricity and gas. Unless these are effectively addressed by the government there is every likelihood that these proposals would become controversial and cause widespread resentment even if the Punjab government, a coalition of two NDA parties, is supporting them.

In the first place the government needs to clarify why it wishes to sell electricity to Pakistan when there is such a grave power shortage in India. Is there a surplus in an area adjoining Pakistan? If so should not steps be taken to send that power to an area where there is a shortage even if it means spending money on power infrastructure to overcome any technical difficulties? It is one thing to ask the people to make a sacrifice for a friendly country but can we put Pakistan in that category? An argument that the transfer of power will be a commercial deal will not wash for exports are almost always prohibited of critical commodities which are in short supply. Will Pakistan's approach towards India change because we are being generous in their time of need? This is obviously unlikely because nations seldom reciprocate generosity. They act in pursuit of their interests, coldly and dispassionately.

The government has to address these and other questions that may agitate the public's mind in this matter.

Indus treaty

If cogent answers can be given then no one will object to these proposals but are there any persuasive answers? At this stage we also need to recall the lessons of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1961. Through the 1950s Pakistan always raised the bogey of its insecurity over water as all major Pakistani rivers flow through India into Pakistan. In order to assuage its concerns and in the hope that by doing so its hostility to India would diminish India entered into a treaty that gave Pakistan exclusive rights to a far larger share of the waters than what became available to India. Did Pakistani hostility end? And it is ironic that Pakistan is now raising the water bogey again when the fact is that mismanagement is the cause of its water shortages.

Precedent

It is noteworthy that Pakistan has given no firm indication that it will extend MFN status to India. Should we not press for it at this stage? Should we not also press Pakistan that it should allow overland transit for Indian goods from the Wagah border to Afghanistan? Finally, the government will do well to recall the last occasion when India and Pakistan discussed sale of electricity.

This was in 1997-98 but at that time Pakistan wanted to sell electricity. The matter had come up in Nawaz Sharif- Gujral talks in Edinburgh in October 1997. Two rounds of discussions were held, the second being in Delhi in January 1998. The Pakistanis did not proceed with the idea thereafter. In the middle of that year a Pakistani official connected with the talks told an Indian diplomat in Islamabad that the Army (which remains the arbiter of the country's India policy) had decreed that the sale of electricity to India was a security matter and could not be allowed!

anupmisra · Post by **anupmisra** » 14 Jul 2013 16:31

Vipul wrote:India starts building 850MW Ratle Dam on Chenab.

Former Wapda chairman Shamsul Mulk said that Pakistan needs to develop water uses in its all rivers by building water reservoirs to prevent India from constructing the hydropower project. "Once Pakistan develops its water uses, then it can argue at any international court that India cannot build its project by injuring committed flows of Pakistan."

Typical!! Very "commandu-like" paki thought. No long term goal or strategy, all ill conceived short term tactics.

This tactic is akin to willfully contracting a disease and then demanding free health care from others with the threat that without the care the disease will spread. Perhaps India should respond by saying that the proposed size of the reservoirs should be limited to the volume laid down in the IWT. And, then demand (a very paki concept) to inspect the reservoirs and find all sorts of faults in their design.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 14 Jul 2013 16:42

The WAPDA chairman is very confused. He has not read the IWT carefully. I am happy that such a nonsensical statement has so far not come from the PIC of Pakistan.

K Mehta · Post by **K Mehta** » 16 Jul 2013 03:08

SS
That article is from paktribune whereas the real website is tribunedawtcomdawtpk. perhaps an agency plant article.

Theo_Fidel · Post by **Theo_Fidel** » 16 Jul 2013 03:19

So far India has challenged every project that is in Kashmir territory.
The Basha dam funding from world bank was pulled due to this.
The project is essentially dead in the water due to this despite the tall mountain friend….
The Neelum Jhelum project is financially unviable now that Kishan Ganga is approved.
The question of environmental flows arise, depends on if the measurement is at the Yellow Sea or at the dam….

Gagan · Post by **Gagan** » 16 Jul 2013 05:52

Animation of the Ratle Dam construction with timeline. With 400% provision for Draw Down Flushing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKb1I6c_gJE

Prem · Post by **Prem** » 16 Jul 2013 09:22

SSridhar wrote:The WAPDA chairman is very confused. He has not read the IWT carefully. I am happy that such a nonsensical statement has so far not come from the PIC of Pakistan.

This explain the Haramigiri

Wapda chief removal imminent

senior official told The Nation on Tuesday that following verbal instructions from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the water and power ministry is preparing a summary, to be sent to the premier for approval in next couple of days, for appointment of a new chairman. Two retired army officers – Neelum-Jhelum project Chief Executive Officer Lt-Gen (r) Muhammad Zubair and Lt-Gen (r) Nasir – are main players in the race for this important slot while name of a third possible candidate has yet to be finalised, the source said.Besides, construction of mega dams had become a controversial issue in a country blessed with abundant water resources and suitable terrain. Practically, such stalemate rendered Wapda ineffective, causing irreparable loss to national economy. Energy experts said the tug-of-war between Punjab and Sindh over water resources had dragged the entire nation into economic and social quagmire, seriously undermining real potential of Pakistan. They said the resultant divergence of views and polarisation on water issues had made people a victim of high cost of energy coupled with unending power outages. Moreover, efficient use of water for irrigation purposes could not be ensured due to contrasting positions of these two federating units.But these differences and the subsequent trust deficit between two big provinces were not without reason. As among other things, Sindhis had been given very few chances to become effective part of the water sector projects, and their representation on top slots were negligible.
S

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 20 Jul 2013 12:52

Pakistan may go to world court if India pursues Ratle Dam project

Ansar Abbasi
Saturday, July 20, 2013
From Print Edition

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office has made it clear that Pakistan wants the Indus Water Treaty with India to be implemented in earnest as it is vital for Islamabad.

“It is a matter of life and death for us,” FO spokesman Azaz Ahmad Chaudhry told The News when asked about Pakistan’s stance on the recent launch of a mega 850MW Hydro Electric Project named Ratle in Jammu and Kashmir on the Chenab River by the Indian government.

The spokesman said that if this project is found violating the Treaty, Pakistan would take it seriously to ensure that its water rights are not infringed. “If it requires going to international courts, we will do that,” he said.

After the disputed Kishanganga and Baglihar projects, this is the third major rather the biggest of the all three disputed Indian projects having raised many eyebrows in Pakistan as it is seen as yet another violation of the Indus Water Treaty by the Indian government.

The FO spokesman said that such matters are initially taken up before the bilateral Indus Water Commission and in case of failure to resolve the matter bilaterally Pakistan could approach court of arbitration. He said that as per the Treaty India could have a project on run of the river but it can’t store water on Pakistani rivers.

The Indian latest project will be three times larger than the Baglihar Hydropower Dam. Mirza Asif Baig, Commissioner of Pakistan Commission of Indus Water, has already objected to the project. Recently he told this newspaper that it was a sheer violation of the provisions of Indus Waters Treaty 1960.

“We have come up with strong objections to the design of the said project in a meeting with India at the Permanent Commission of Indus Waters (PCIW) level,” Baig recently told this newspaper’s senior staffer and economic correspondent Khalid Mustafa. The commissioner pledged that he would continue to oppose the said project as its design violated the Indus Waters Treaty.

While many here want Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to speak on the issue of water and in respect to Indian aggression against Pakistan’s resource, the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress top leader Sonia Gandhi on June 25th jointly laid the foundation stone for GVK’s 850MW Ratle Hydro Electric Project, Drabshala, Kishtwar in Jammu and Kashmir.

The 850MW Ratle Hydro Electric Power Project is located on River Chenab near Drabshala village in Kishtwar District, Jammu & Kashmir. It lies between the Dulhasti HEP (390MW) on its upstream and the Baglihar HEP (450 + 450MW) on its downstream.

While Pakistani government has adopted apologetic approach towards India, the latter is aggressively pursuing the policy of hurting Pakistan. Without bothering to the earlier objections raised by Pakistan against Baglihar and Kishanganga Dams, the Indian government has now launched third and the biggest project on Pakistani rivers.

Of late, a former official of Indian home ministry has also revealed before its Supreme Court that Indian government was behind the Parliament assault and Mumbai attack. This was a great embarrassment for the Indian government that has been blaming Pakistan and the ISI for these attacks but still the government of Pakistan did not show any reaction and kept a complete mum.

The disinformation campaign has started.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 20 Jul 2013 14:04

This Pakistani antic has gotten one too many. Time has come for India to do some serious thinking on the IWT. Such a one-sided treaty does not exist between any two countries and we cannot forever be threatened and our future held hostage by an enduringly hostile and unrelenting enemy on frivolous grounds.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 20 Jul 2013 17:29

SSji on the contrary the morons in Delhi would not let go a singular opportunity to get kicked on the face in their quest to be more accomadating and liberal.All at the cost of the country.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 20 Jul 2013 17:48

Yeah true, Vipul. But, now that Nobel Peace Prize has slipped away, some serious thinking can be done by the incumbent government and the government-in-waiting. Oh, but the elections are coming and action against TSP would be deemed as communal and hence possible loss of votes. We are hemmed in all sides.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 20 Jul 2013 21:27

The khujli to etch one's name in History Books and Vote bank politics will make the congressi goons act recklessly .It is time for the Dharmic Forces to be vigilant as back door diplomacy tamasha has again been activated and as planned various Paki Masters and Lifafa Journalists are calling for India to be to show meaningful gestures.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 20 Jul 2013 22:21

SSridhar wrote:Yeah true, Vipul. But, now that Nobel Peace Prize has slipped away, some serious thinking can be done by the incumbent government and the government-in-waiting. Oh, but the elections are coming and action against TSP would be deemed as communal and hence possible loss of votes. We are hemmed in all sides.

SSridhar ji,

Never underestimate the greed for self aggrandizement of a failed babu. He may yet make us all drink from the poisoned chalice. A last desperate throw of the dice to make his master's life in Afpak easier, perhaps

Lilo · Post by **Lilo** » 20 Jul 2013 22:29

Vipul wrote:The khujli to etch one's name in History Books and Vote bank politics will make the congressi goons act recklessly .It is time for the Dharmic Forces to be vigilant as back door diplomacy tamasha has again been activated and as planned various Paki Masters and Lifafa Journalists are calling for India to be to show meaningful gestures.

Precisely, a recent poll overseen by a neocolonial (Rory Medcalf ) has a couple of interesting questions inserted into it.... the percentage of Indians shown to be supposedly replying in affirmative to those two questions is a pointer to how the big brother expects India to act.

Pakistan
An overwhelming majority (94%) of Indians see Pakistan as a threat, citing terrorism as a major reason. Other reasons identified include a belief that the Pakistani army sees India as its enemy, that Pakistan has nuclear weapons, and that it claims sovereignty over Kashmir. Even so, 89% of Indians agree that ordinary people in both countries want peace, 87% agree that a big improvement in India-Pakistan relations requires courageous leadership on both sides, and 76% agree that India should take the initiative.

http://www.lowyinstitute.org/publicatio ... -poll-2013

anupmisra · Post by **anupmisra** » 23 Jul 2013 16:03

Pakistan’s new big threat isn’t terrorism — it’s water

“one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, not far from being classified, ‘water-scarce’.”

Pakistan’s storage capacity, the amount of water it has on reserve in case of an emergency, is limited to a 30-day supply — far below the recommended 1,000 days for countries with similar climates. Without meaningful action, a water crisis could push the country into further chaos

the Pakistani government may find itself in a difficult position when negotiating with India — it will have limited bargaining room against an Indian government that may be reluctant to renegotiate a treaty (IWT) that has been in place for 53 years.

the future looks alarming

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 26 Jul 2013 17:17

Talk Show of RAPES: Water crises in Pakistan.

Gurus here can you comment on this claim by pakistani legal expert that the Baglihar award in India's favour is just applicable one time and wont affect pakistan in future.Where as the KishanGanaga interim award is in favour of Pakistan and the design change feature mandated will be applicable and binding on India to all future projects that it would undertake.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 26 Jul 2013 17:41

India has asked for clarifications from the CoA and the issue has not been settled. On the face of it, that Paki assessment appears closer to truth.

K Mehta · Post by **K Mehta** » 27 Jul 2013 23:28

J&K govt tender on quantification of losses suffered by J&K from IWT.
http://www.jkspdc.nic.in/tender_files/2 ... Notice.pdf

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 28 Jul 2013 13:30

I have a slight different take on this. DDF is not permitted for sediment management in the interim award.Pakistan was objecting to low level gates as it could be used to manipulate water level in the reservoir below dead storage level. Treaty does permit low level gates for emergency purposes and arbitration award indicates sedimentation is not an emergency. Hence DDF would not be allowed even for future dams. But award does not make any design changes or suggestion IMO. So LLG can stay but not used ofr DDF. That is enough to give nightmare to Pakis. The main question which remains to be determined is the minimum environmental flow that is required to be allowed by India downstream , instead of diverting to Bonar Mandhmati Nalah for Power generation. In any case it is re-classified as ROR Dam and not as storage dam , hence height was lowered after Baghlihar arbitration.

India was not able to establish before the COA that DDF is the only way to effectively control sedimentation and accepted that there are other methods and DDF has its drawback. On that basis it was not allowed.

Treaty arbitration works in strange ways. Arbitration award is generally accepted for that particular case and could be challenged in next case if used as precedent, the question could be reopened. Baglihar award was not accepted as final in respect of design aspect, so I dont think any design aspect could be ever final.

DDF question needs to be settled separately once clarification is received from COA.

India has accepted Pakistan proposed dates for restarting the Water and Sir Creek talks, to what end only Congoons and MMS knows.

India to resume talks with Pakistan on water, Sir Creek: Sources

India has agreed to resume talks with Pakistan on water and Sir Creek, after Islamabad proposed dates last week. Sources say India has agreed in principle and the dates are now being worked out.

In January this year, the talks between the Water Secretaries of the two countries were put off following a string of clashes along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir that left two Indian soldiers dead and their bodies mutilated.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif are also expected to meet in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in the last week of September.

India started work on Tulbul project at the Wullar lake in Jammu and Kashmir in 1985 to make the Jhelum river navigable in summer. The project was stopped after Pakistan said it violated the Indus Water Treaty of 1960.

Pakistan claimed the project could be used by India to control the flow of the Jhelum, a charge denied by New Delhi.

Sir Creek, another contentious issue between the two neighbours, is an area that runs along Gujarat's border with Pakistan in the Kutch region. The area is believed to be rich in oil and gas, and has a large fishing ground.

Narendra Modi, during the last Gujarat elections, had accused the Centre of acquiescing to Pakistan on the Sir Creek issue, an allegation the Prime Minister's Office soon denied.

vic · Post by **vic** » 28 Jul 2013 17:10

The way evidence was ****** up by Indian expert on DDF, makes me feel that MMS delivered a concession to Pakis for Uncle SAM.

Vipul · Post by **Vipul** » 28 Jul 2013 19:31

Is there simply no way that the Italian and Mickey Mouse Character can be stopped from selling out the country?

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 28 Jul 2013 19:54

Chaanakya, I understand where you come from on this. Let me explain my position though.

Pakistan placed largely two issues before the CoA. One was the specific question of diversion of waters from Kishenganga to Bonar Madumathi Nallah and the other was the general question of whether India was at all at liberty to use draw down flushing (DDF) except in an emergency as per the IWT. Pakistan knew well that it had no strong case in its claim that the IWT did not allow diversion of waters to another tributary of the Jhelum, though it continued to proclaim that probably as an attempt to conceal its real intention which was the DDF and generally to paint India as a villain in violation of its bilateral / international commitments. The effort partially succeeded because India slightly goofed up the response in defending its choices for managing sedimentation. The CoA has specifically said that DDF must not be used in future projects by India. It has also said that the ruling does not apply to Indian projects already in operation or under construction, whose designs have been communicated to Pakistan by India and not objected to by Islamabad.

The Neutral Expert’s ruling in the Baglihar case allowed Low Level Sluice Gates (LLGs) and allowed even DDF for managing sedimentation (but not for regular operations).Now, LLG, also known as ‘flushing’ which is used to remove already deposited sediments while ‘Drawdown’ is used to remove almost real-time incoming sediments during a flood season. Therefore, DDF may be used for a short period during a specific time when water flow and velocity of flow would to Pakistan be high anyway due to floods. Pakistan was miffed by the NE’s allowing both LLG and DDF. Pakistan’s attempt is clearly to make these Indian projects useless or ineffective as it did with Salal. What are the reasons for Pakistan’s objections to DDF ? One argument by Pakistan is that such DDF allows, through the backdoor, more live storage in the project than has been designed for as communicated to Pakistan by the Indian PIC. And the other is environmental issues downstream. Pakistan knows that the genuine reason for low-level gates or DDF is to manage the very high sedimentation in these Himalayan rivers. Pakistan has first hand experience of this in Tarbela where it is losing over 1% live storage capacity every year and a 25 ~ 30 Km long island has formed upstream of the Tarbela in the middle of the Indus and its power generators frequently shutdown. Notwithstanding Pakistani objections regarding live storage, DDF remains an effective mechanism for sedimentation and especially so in these rivers. The CoA *should* have thrown out the Pakistani objection in the larger interest of the sustainability, viability and the life cycle of the project. A fake paranoid-ridden Pakistan will conjure up all sorts of scenarios to scuttle Indian projects. Whether water is let through the DDG or LLGs or Spillways, it is eventually going to reach Pakistan and Run-of-River projects cannot store more than a week’s worth of waters per IWT anyway. I do not believe that Pakistan is worried about environmental damage to itself either resulting from a heavy discharge through DDF upstream. It is simply to make India’s position miserable, to make India appear as a violator, perk up its citizenry and generally mask its inefficient handling of its water situation. It would also like India to take the sediment load and leave so much less of a botheration for itself. Tarbela experience has taught lessons to the Pakistanis.

Annexure E, Paragraph 23 says, “When the Live Storage Capacity of a Storage Work is reduced by sedimentation India may, in accordance with the relevant provisions of this Annexure, construct new Storage Works or modify existing Storage Works so as to make up the storage capacity lost by sedimentation”. India can raise the height of the project but that would be costly and not a lasting solution. India *has* to find other means to flush the sediments into the Pakistani side. I am convinced that the CoA is not going to change its mind on the Drawdown Flushing technique. From that point of view, it is a sort of victory for Pakistan.

This, I thought, was the original question that Vipul asked.

chaanakya · Post by **chaanakya** » 28 Jul 2013 19:58

http://www.the news.co m.p k/Todays-News-8-192809-Water-wars

Pakistan’s looming water wars with India came a step closer to becoming a nightmarish reality after news that

the Indians plan on pursuing another 60 hydroelectric power projects on the Chenab basin. The fact is that Pakistan is

on the brink of being water insecure. This scarcity is choking to death the country’s agricultural output, and so it has

every reason to be worried about India’s intentions. According to the terms of the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan was

given control of the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum rivers but India was allowed to use them for irrigation and power

generation, as long as it didn’t deprive Pakistan of its rightful share. Our concern that India has already violated the

terms of the treaty through its previous power generation projects is based more on speculation than established fact.

No single power project has the capacity to store enough water to deny us our rightful supply but India will soon reach

the stage where it has enough dams to seriously affect our water supply should it choose to do so. And no one

doubts that, were the two countries ever to engage in hostilities, that is exactly what India would do.

They realise the absurdity of their paranoia but unable to overcome it just like a patient suffering from paranoid delusion.

It is more of a speculation and paranoia about what India would do if there is a War contrary to the facts available. Pakis delusional concerns with Indian intention is more a reflection of its own behaviour in the face of Indian generosity in all fields despite Pakis continued jehaard attacks on India and killing of innocent civilians , Inidian or foreign on the Indian soil. They fear that their cup of atrocities would get filled soon and then they would have to face Indian Juggernaut which has the capability to crush them beyond oblivion. Why do we even need to stop the water??