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Saturday, October 26, 2013
Pakistan, India disagree on five water projectsISLAMABAD: Pakistan is currently contesting with India over five water projects, including Kishenganga, Ratle, Miyar, Lower Kalnai hydroelectric projects, Wullar Barrage and Tulbul navigation project.
This was informed during a briefing on Indus Basin Treaty by Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Asif, Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Water Mirza Asif Baig and Secretary Saifullah Chattha.
Khawaja Asif said water is a “life and death issue” for the people of Pakistan as the country is water stressed and could become water starved in future. He said there is need to evolve a consensus on water issues so rights of the country could be defended vigorously.
He said that in his opinion Indus water treaty signed with India did not judiciously distribute water. When the treaty was signed Pakistan had population of 30-40 million but now it has risen five fold to 180-200 million, he added. He said there is need to change the way people use water in their homes and for agriculture.
He said work will simultaneously start on Diamer Bhasha and Dassu dams. Funding options are available for the two hydel projects. Rs 21 billion have already been spent on Diamer Bhasha dam and land acquisition for it has been completed.
The water and power secretary said India has been trying to get water in excess of the limits it is allowed under the Indus Basin Treaty.
Mirza Asif Baig said the dispute regarding the proposed diversion of Neelum water by India and draw down of the dead storage level was referred to International Court of Arbitration.
The commissioner said the final hearing of Court of Arbitration was concluded on August 31, 2012 and partial award of the court has been awarded on February 18, 2013 in which the first question of diversion was decided in favour of India and the second question of draw down in storage level in Pakistan’s favour.
Both the parties have to submit additional data and written submissions to the Court of Arbitration and accordingly the court will decide the quantum of water to be released below Kishenganga Hydroelectric Plant in Neelum River as environmental releases.
The final award of the court is expected by December 2013, he noted.
He said Pakistan has objected on freeboard, magnitude of poundage and placement of spillway of Ratle Hydroelectric plant of 850 megawatts, Miyar Hydroelectric Plant of 120 megawatts, Lower Kalnai plant of 48 megawatts and Pakal Dul Hydroelectric Plant of 1,000 megawatts located on Chenab River.
These objections were discussed before in two meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission in March and September and will finally be discussed in the next meeting of the commission likely to be held in December 2013. Pakistan and India are members of the commission. Another disputed project is Wullar barrage and during the 6th round of secretary level talks, it was agreed that the Indian side will provide additional technical data to Pakistan.
Pakistan will examine the data to furnish its views before the next round of talks.
The officials informed that unilateral construction of Wullar Barrage by India on Jhelum River was reported in 1985. Pakistan objected that storage is not allowed to India on main Jhelum. The work on the project is suspended since 1987 and it was last verified on May 30, 2013.
The Indus Water Treaty contains provisions allowing India and Pakistan to establish river-run power projects with limited reservoir capacity and flow control needed for feasible power generation.
Under the treaty, all the water of eastern rivers of Pakistan is available for the unrestricted use of India. Pakistan is allowed limited agriculture use of 45,000 acres from tributaries of Ravi River. Pakistan should receive unrestricted use of all waters of western rivers. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk