‘ Hope Pak doesn’t violate Indus treaty’
Pakistan is set to move the Hague- based Permanent Court of Arbitration ( PCA) against India over construction of the controversial 850MW Ratle Hydroelectric Plant ( RHEP) and 330MW Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project ( KHEP) in Kashmir.
Pakistan minister for water and power Khawaja Mohammed Asif said talks with India on resolution of Pakistan’s objections regarding Kishanganga and Ratle Hydroelectric Plants Thursday and Friday had failed and Pakistan, with the consent of stakeholders, had decided to take it to the full court of arbitration.
MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said on Saturday that India hoped that Pakistan would avail of provisions of the bilateral Indus Waters Treaty, 1960 to amicably resolve matters of mutual concern pertaining to hydro- electric projects and not violate it by rushing to a third forum.
“During the talks, both sides stated their views at the government level. We hope that the Pakistan side will see reason in our suggestions on the way forward,” he added.
Pakistan has serious reservations over the design of these projects and considers it gross violation of IWT 1960, that the two countries signed. Officials said that under the provisions of the IWT, the waters of the eastern rivers — Sutlej, Beas and Ravi — had been allocated to India and the western ones — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — to Pakistan, except for certain uses allowed to India, which included generation of hydropower, but without altering the water flow.
Officials said it was a matter of life and death for Pakistan.