Non-serious attitude of policymakers: India begins work on another hydel project on Jhelum

India has started work on another controversial hydroelectric project on Jhelum River in held Kashmir in violation of the Indus Water Treaty, but Pakistani policymakers are not taking it seriously, it is learnt reliably. The 105-megawatt Gantamulla be taken up for hearing by the Court of Arbitration in The Hague later this month.
Pakistan had instituted arbitration proceedings against India under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) on May 17, 2010. The Indus Water Treaty was signed in 1960. The international agreement signed by both states allocates the use of six major rivers between the two countries. Pakistan and India have disagreement on the application of the provisions of the treaty on the Kishanganga project. A seven-member Court of Arbitration already constituted is looking into the dispute. The Court of Arbitration is chaired by Stephen M Schwebel of United States, who is the former president of the International Court of Justice.
In addition to the expert briefings and features observed during the site visit, the court will also consider the written and oral pleadings submitted by Pakistan and India after which it will issue the award. project is in addition to 330MW Kishanganga hydroelectric project, also being built on Jhelum River, on which both countries are already fighting a legal battle in an international arbitration forum. Indian government had floated a tender for the Gantamulla project a couple of months ago. Pakistan''s plea against the construction of the Kishanganga hydroelectric project in the Indian-occupied Kashmir would