In a major breakthrough, India has agreed to allow Pakistani team led by Pakistan Indus Water Commissioner Mehr Ali Shah for inspection of Indian projects in the Chenab basin in Held Kashmir. This was claimed by Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda in an official statement here on Friday. Presently, Pakistan and India have dispute on 330MW Kishanganga and 850MW Ratle hydroelectric power plants. However, Pakistan also wants to inspect sites of other proposed projects.
"Pakistan and India have been into INDUS WATER TREATY dispute for ages. Due to our continued efforts there has been a major breakthrough that India has finally agreed to our request for inspection of Indian projects in Chenab basin," said Vawda.
Under the provisions of Article VIII(4)(d) of the Treaty of 1960, the Commission is required ''to undertake promptly, at the request of either Commissioner, a tour of inspection of such works or sites on the rivers as may be considered necessary by him for ascertaining the facts connected with those works or sites.'' In the Annual Report of the Commission, such a tour has been referred to as ''special tour of inspection'' to distinguish it from the ''general tour of inspection'' mentioned in Article VIII (4)(c) of the Treaty.
Under Article VIII(5) the meetings (annual and special) of the Permanent Indus Commission comprising Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters and Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters, are held alternately in Pakistan and India before 1st June every year in order to finalise the Annual Reports of the Commission for the preceding year ending on 31 March. The Article VIII (5) states that:
"The Commission shall meet regularly at least once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan. This regular annual meeting shall be held in November or in such other month as may be agreed upon between the commissioners. The Commission shall also meet when requested by either Commissioner."
During the meeting the Commission records report of the activities undertaken during the preceding year and chalks out activities for the next year. The Commission further discusses the issues which are on the Agenda with mutual consent.
"As a federal minister I have directed my team to visit and carry out inspection of projects from January 27 to February 1, 2019. It''s indeed a feather in Ministry of Water Resources'' cap. We welcome the gesture from India and expect the same spirit for resolution of other outstanding issues," Vawda added.
Both countries held talks on water dispute in August last year which ended without any breakthrough as both remained stuck to their established stances.
In past, the World Bank has remained engaged in resolution of water disputes between Pakistan and India but there is general perception in Pakistan that the World Bank always sided with India because of its influence.