India issued a notice to Pakistan on January 25 accusing its neighbour of being u201cintransigentu201d on the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
In 1960, India and Pakistan signed the Indus Waters Treaty with the World Bank as a signatory of the pact. The agreement took place after nine years of negotiations and divided the control of six rivers between the two countries.Under the treaty, India got control over the rivers Beas, Ravi and Sutlej while Pakistan gained control of the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.
Image source- YouTube According to the treaty, India has the right to generate hydroelectricity through the run of the river (RoR) projects on the western rivers which, subject to specific criteria for design and operation, is unrestricted.Pakistan raised a dispute on the two projects, 330 MW Kishanganga hydroelectric project(Indus tributaries, 2007) and Ratle Hydroelectric Plant (Chenab, 2013) saying it violated the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). Criticising the Kishanganga project, Islamabad said that it blocks water that flows into Pakistan.In 2015, Pakistan approached the World Bank and sought the appointment of a neutral expert to address its objections to the Kishanganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects. The very next year, Islamabad retracted the request and sought a court of arbitration to adjudicate its objections.India said Pakistan hasn’t budged and despite its repeated efforts to find a mutually agreeable way forward, it refused to discuss the issue during the five meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission from 2017 to 2022.Under such circumstances, India issued a notice of modification of the treaty to its neighbour.What are your views about Pakistan interference and negligence regarding the treaty? Comment below.
