Washington: The World Bank has appointed a “neutral expert” and a chairman of the Court of Arbitration regarding the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric power plants, in view of disagreements and differences between India and Pakistan over the 1960 Indus Water Treaty.
World Bank has appointed Michael Lino as “neutral expert” and Sean Murphy as Chairman of the Court of Arbitration regarding the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric power plants. They will perform their duties as experts in the subject in their individual capacity and independently of any other appointments they receive. It is a success for Pakistan to bring issue in limelight.
World Bank said that it is confident that neutral experts and highly qualified experts appointed as members of the Court of Arbitration will give fair and careful consideration to orders within their jurisdiction under the treaty.
As per Indus Water Treaty provisions, Pakistan enjoys exclusive rights over water resources of rivers, including the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, except limited diversion for domestic and irrigation use in IIOJ&K. In 2013, India commenced construction work on Kishanganga (330 MW) and Ratle (850 MW) hydroelectric power plants.
In 2016, Pakistan approached World Bank Objecting Indian construction of dam on legal grounds. India asked World Bank to appoint Neutral Expert and designate issue as technical nature. In 2017, World Bank encouraged both countries to resolve differences bilaterally and announced to pause the proceedings.
Pakistan raised objections regarding the technical design features of the Kishanganga (330MW) and Ratle (850 MW) hydroelectric power plants located on the tributaries of the Jhelum and the Chenab, respectively, designated as “Western Rivers”.
Indus Waters Treaty is a profoundly important international agreement that provides an essential cooperative framework for India and Pakistan to address current and future challenges of effective water management to meet human needs and achieve development goals.
The preamble of the treaty recognizes the rights and obligations of each country in the optimum use of water from the Indus system in a spirit of goodwill, friendship and cooperation.
India constructed 3,200 dams and controls the jugular vein of Pakistan that it can stop the flow of water when it is required for irrigation and release excess waters during torrential rains, aggravating the flooding. Pakistan’s fear to create floods came true when India released 170,000 cusecs into the Ravi river during the 2022 Pakistan floods. Web Desk
Please visit our website London Institute of Peace Research for latest peace news
