Why is Pakistan getting apprehensive of the the Indus Water Treaty? Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi raised the concern of India’s violation of the Indus Water Treaty with World Bank’s President Jim Yong Kim. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister met Kim on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.
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According to Pakistan’s foreign office statement, the Qureshi spoke of India’s construction of water reservoirs during the meeting. The foreign minister stated that the water issue should not be politicised and dealt as a humanitarian issue.
India’s planned hydropower projects at Lower Kalnai and Pakal Dul will have installed capacity of 48 and 1,000 megawatts respectively meaning New Delhi will be able to control 108,000 acre-feet of water from river Chenab.
Both the projects establish a violation of the Indus Water Treaty. The treaty permitted the waters of three eastern rivers – Ravi, Beas and Sutlej exclusively to India while that of Western rivers – Indus, Chenab and Jhelum to Pakistan. However, India has some rights on Western rivers which include unrestricted rights to develop hydroelectric power within the specified parameters of the design.
