Source: Daily Times

By Zafar Bhutta
Pakistan on Tuesday decided to approach the World Bank (WB) in a last ditch effort for arbitration over a violation of the Indus Water Treaty by India if New Delhi did not concede the violation.

According to sources, India reduced water flow in the Chenab River that had hit the kharif crop hard in Pakistan. “India has committed gross violations of the Indus Water Treaty by reducing water flows in the Chenab River to fill Baglihar Dam. Pakistan will demand compensation for the water loss,” they said.

Chairing a high-level meeting held at Head Marala to consider India’s interference in the flow of the Chenab River, Water and Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf decided to lodge a strong protest with India against the violation. Sources said the Punjab Irrigation Department had also been asked to assess all losses incurred to the kharif crop.

Sources said Pakistan would take up the issue with India on a water commissioner-level meeting likely to be held in New Delhi. “We will demand compensation estimated at 0.2 million cusecs in water loss. If India does not accept the violation, Pakistan will go to the WB for arbitration,” they said.

Compensate: They said Pakistan would ask India to compensate the water loss by releasing water in the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers. They said the meeting had also asked the Punjab Irrigation Department to assess the losses that would be placed before the Indian authorities during the water commissioners meeting.

Sources said Pakistan had also demanded that the Indian government conduct the inspection of Baglihar Dam, adding that the Pakistan commissioner for Indus water (PCIW) had taken up the issue with his Indian counterpart. They said the Indian water commissioner had written to the ministry concerned and the Indian-held Kashmir government to get the dam inspected by Pakistani officials.

The water and power minister and the participants took serious note of the reduction of water in the Chenab River and decided to lodge a strong protest with India against the violation. The minister directed the concerned quarters to take necessary action, and directed the Pakistan commissioner to undertake a tour of inspection and hold formal discussions with the Indian commissioner.

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Tags: Indus Water Treaty, violation, World Bank (WB)