Pakistan might lose more water to India
26 January, 2012
ISLAMABAD: Despite getting approval by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to approach the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) over the construction of controversial 45-megawatt Nimoo-Bazgo Hydropower Project in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK), the Indus Water Commission (IWC) once again seems to be lazy for resolution of the issue after losing the cases of Baglihar and Kishanganga hydropower projects. A senior official of the IWC said that the commission had gotten approval by the PM, but the case would be taken up next month due to delay in preparation of documentation of the Nimoo-Bazgo case. Interestingly, Indian authorities claim they would complete the Nimoo-Bazgo Hydropower Project by June 2013, but Pakistani authorities keep on delaying the decision to challenge construction of the 45MW project. If Pakistan continues to delay approaching the ICA over the said issue, the case would go in favour of India and Pakistani authorities will lose yet another such case, as they have already lost the cases of Baglihar and Kishanganga hydropower projects. When the scribe tried to contact Indus Water Commissioner Sheraz Memon, his personal assistant (PA) said Memon was not in a position to talk to the media, especially after the case of alleged involvement of former water commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah in facilitating Indian authorities. The PA further said that Memon was not interested in sharing any information regarding trans-boundary issues, especially those involving Indian authorities. On the other hand, well-placed sources in the water commission revealed that the commission is yet to arrange technical and legal supportive documentation regarding the controversial Nimoo-Bazgo Hydroelectric Project. A source said after the inquiries established against former water commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah for his alleged involvement in facilitating Indian authorities in the construction of Nimoo-Bazgo project, the entire commission had decided to tighten their lips over any controversial trans-boundary issue. The official said the 57-metre-high Nimoo-Bazgo Hydroelectric Project is being developed in the Leh district on the Indus River. Additionally, 42-metre-high Chuttak Hydroelectric Project is also being completed on the Suru River, a tributary of Indus in the Kargil district of Indian-held Kashmir. The said projects will reduce the flows of Indus River, the lifeline of Pakistan. These dams can store up to 120 million cubic metres of water. A Pakistani delegation visited the site of Nimoo-Bazgo Hydroelectric Project in October 2011 and raised five objections, mainly related to the height of spillways and depth of the dam. However the Indian authorities rejected those objections. Pakistan is of the view that the construction of Nimoo-Bazgo project negates the provisions of Indus Waters Treaty. The two countries have previously met in similar circumstances on the international forum twice - once over the construction of Baglihar Dam in Indian-held Kashmir and the second time over construction of Kishanganga Dam on the Neelum River at Gurez, also in Kashmir. Baglihar Dam was constructed by India with a 450MW power generation capacity on the Chenab River. Pakistan had challenged the construction of Baglihar Dam before neutral experts, but the decision went against it. The ICA barred India from permanent constructions on the Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project in a short-term order, but the final decision is yet to come. End.
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