ID :
26279
Fri, 10/24/2008 - 11:05
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/26279
The shortlink copeid
Indo-Pak talks on Chenab water controversy begin
New Delhi, Oct 23 (PTI) Indus Water Commissioners of India and Pakistan met here Thursday in the backdrop of Islamabad's allegations that New Delhi had blocked Chenab river water flow affecting cultivation in that country.
In the two-day talks which began this morning, Pakistan
is expected to seek compensation for the alleged blockage.
Indus Water Commissioner G. Ranganathan and his Pakistani
counterpart Syed Jamaat Ali Shah will discuss ways in which
such controversies could be averted.
Pakistan has alleged that India had blocked flow of
Chenab river water to fill the dam for the recently
commissioned Baglihar power project in Jammu and Kashmir and
claimed that it had affected cultivation in that country.
India has rejected the charge and said there was no
deliberate act on its part and that the flow was less because
of low availability of water in the river.
Shah and his delegation visited Baglihar project on
Monday for an on-the-spot assessment of the water situation.
Sources said the Pakistani side is expected to seek
compensation for low water flow.
The Pakistani side says there was an understanding
between the two countries that the dam would be filled between
June 21 and August 21, when monsoon would have been at its
peak.
This, however, did not happen as Baglihar project got
delayed and the dam could be filled only after August 19 when
the monsoon season was towards its end, according to it.
Pakistan says it should get at least 55,000 cusecs of
water but was only getting 30,000 to 35,000 cusecs on an
average.
Under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty between the two
countries, Pakistan has the exclusive right over Chenab river.
The 450 MW Baglihar project on river Chenab, which was
caught in a prolonged tussle between India and Pakistan before
World Bank gave a go-ahead for its construction over a year
ago, was commissioned over a week ago by Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari warned last week that
the issue could "damage ties" between the two countries.
"Due to choking of water supply in Chenab following the
storage of water in the dam at Baglihar, the farm sector in
Pakistan has been hit," Shah said during his visit to the site
on Monday.
A report would be prepared and submitted to the Pakistani
government, he said adding farmers in his country had
complained of water scarcity in Chenab.
Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Commissioner Sandeep
Naik said "we have not violated the Indus Water Treaty. We are
committed to it." PTI N.A.B.
In the two-day talks which began this morning, Pakistan
is expected to seek compensation for the alleged blockage.
Indus Water Commissioner G. Ranganathan and his Pakistani
counterpart Syed Jamaat Ali Shah will discuss ways in which
such controversies could be averted.
Pakistan has alleged that India had blocked flow of
Chenab river water to fill the dam for the recently
commissioned Baglihar power project in Jammu and Kashmir and
claimed that it had affected cultivation in that country.
India has rejected the charge and said there was no
deliberate act on its part and that the flow was less because
of low availability of water in the river.
Shah and his delegation visited Baglihar project on
Monday for an on-the-spot assessment of the water situation.
Sources said the Pakistani side is expected to seek
compensation for low water flow.
The Pakistani side says there was an understanding
between the two countries that the dam would be filled between
June 21 and August 21, when monsoon would have been at its
peak.
This, however, did not happen as Baglihar project got
delayed and the dam could be filled only after August 19 when
the monsoon season was towards its end, according to it.
Pakistan says it should get at least 55,000 cusecs of
water but was only getting 30,000 to 35,000 cusecs on an
average.
Under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty between the two
countries, Pakistan has the exclusive right over Chenab river.
The 450 MW Baglihar project on river Chenab, which was
caught in a prolonged tussle between India and Pakistan before
World Bank gave a go-ahead for its construction over a year
ago, was commissioned over a week ago by Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari warned last week that
the issue could "damage ties" between the two countries.
"Due to choking of water supply in Chenab following the
storage of water in the dam at Baglihar, the farm sector in
Pakistan has been hit," Shah said during his visit to the site
on Monday.
A report would be prepared and submitted to the Pakistani
government, he said adding farmers in his country had
complained of water scarcity in Chenab.
Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Commissioner Sandeep
Naik said "we have not violated the Indus Water Treaty. We are
committed to it." PTI N.A.B.
