ISLAMABAD: A 10-member Indian delegation will visit Pakistan for the annual meeting of the Permanent Indus Water Commission from March 1-3 under the Indus Water Treaty.
The Pakistani side will be led by Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Mehr Ali Shah. He hoped the contentious issues about the design of two hydropower projects would be resolved during bilateral dialogue.
The Indian delegation will leave arrive in Pakistan through Wagah border on February 28 and will return through the same route on March 4. The agenda for the meeting is being finalised between the two commissioners.
Three female officers will also be part of the Indian delegation, which will be advising the Indian Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Saxena on various issues during the meeting. Last year, a delegation led by the Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters had visited New Delhi for the annual meeting.
Pakistan has raised objections on Indian hydroelectric projects namely Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Lower Kalnai (48 MW) and Kiru (624 MW) in Chenab basin in Jammu and Kashmir, and a few small hydroelectric projects in Ladakh under Article 9 of the Waters Treaty which would again be deliberated.
Shah said that Pakistan had earlier sought an explanation on the design of Kiru Hydropower project. During these talks, India will submit clarifications over Pakistan’s objections. He said Pakistan would also seek Indian commitment for sharing water flows data ahead of the next flood season.
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According to the treaty, India has been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run-of-the-river projects on the western rivers subject to specific criteria for design and operation.
The pact also gives the right to Pakistan to raise objections to designs of Indian hydroelectric projects on the western rivers. Pakistan has raised objections to the design of these projects.
Under the Indus Water Treaty signed in 1960, waters of eastern rivers Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, amounting to around 33 million acre-feet (MAF) annually were allocated to India for unrestricted use.
The waters of western rivers Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, amounting to around 135 MAF annually were assigned largely to Pakistan. However, India is permitted to construct the run-of-the-river plants on western rivers with limited storage as per criteria specified in the treaty.
Under the provisions of Article VIII(5) of the Indus Waters Treaty, the Permanent Indus Commission is required to meet regularly at least once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan. The last meeting of the Commission was held on March 23-24 2021 in New Delhi.
