Indus river Dispute
What is the dispute?
Two units are being constructed by India under the 'Run-of-the-River' Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project on the Kishanganga River, atributary of Jhelum and the Ratle Hydroelectric Project on the Chenab River.Pakistan objected to the design of both these projects, calling these projects violative of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Pakistan says that due to these projects, the flow of water in the above rivers towards Pakistan may be obstructed. Regarding this complaint against India, he has demanded from the World Bank to set up a Court of Arbitration.
In this context, the Indian side says that since Pakistan's objection is to the design of the projects, the World Bank should appoint an impartial expert.
Indus Water Treaty
The Indus Water Agreement was signed between India and Pakistan on September 19, 1960, in the mediation of the World Bank for the use of the waters of the Indus and its five tributaries. Three principles were made the basis for this agreement.
First, both the countries agreed that the water resources of the Indus water system are sufficient for the present and future needs,
secondly the cooperative use of water resources between the two countries by considering the entire Indus water system as one unit,
third- Indus water area inthe future Trying to solve the problem of water resources use and development from a practical point of view instead of solving it from a political point of view.
Under the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej have been given the status of 'Eastern Rivers' and India has been given exclusive rights over the waters of these three rivers. According to the agreement, in the border area where the Sutlej and Ravi flow along the border before entering Pakistan completely, Pakistan can draw water from these rivers only for domestic use, non-consumptive use and irrigation.
Apart from this, Pakistan has been allowed to use the quantity of water available in these rivers after the complete entry of Ravi and Sutlej into Pakistan, but it cannot make any quantitative claim in this regard.
Under the provisions of the treaty, the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab have been given the status of 'Western Rivers' and Pakistan has been given exclusive rights over them. India can make limited use of water from these rivers for irrigation in 7 lakh acres under Appendix-C of the agreement for domestic and non consumable use and for hydropower generation under Appendix D.
In this way, India has received only 20 percent of the total water in the Indus river water system.
Provision has also been made for the appointment of a Permanent Commission No. for the settlement of disputes in the Indus Strait. This commission oversees the implementation of the treaty.In this commission, one commissioner is appointed each from India and Pakistan. This commission shares the data related to the Indus water system at regular intervals. This commission tries to resolve the 'Questions' that may arise in relation to the implementation of the Treaty. Apart from this, under the auspices of the World Bank, under the auspices of the World Bank, a provision has been made to appoint an impartial expert in the event of 'differences' and to set up a court of arbitration to settle 'disputes'.
