Pakistan feels it is unlikely that the WB panel will ask India to stop the hydropower project on River Chenab in Kashmir.
LAHORE: Despite foreseeing a World Bank verdict on the controversial Baglihar dam in its favour next week, Pakistan feels it is unlikely that the WB panel will ask India to stop the hydropower project on River Chenab in Kashmir. However, the panel may ask India to modify the design of the project.
According to sources in the foreign office, there are bleak chances of Islamabad moving some international forum like the International Court of Justice against the verdict.
“Over 80 per cent of work on Baglihar has been completed by India and therefore, it seems impossible for the arbitrator to suggest closure of the project. It could ask India to modify it to a run-of-the-river project to satisfy Pakistan to some extent,” a senior official of the Water and Power Ministry in Islamabad said. The official added that the run-of-the-river project was meant to generate electricity without storing water in the reservoir. It would regulate the flow of water in any way.
Following the failure to sort out differences on the proposed design of the 450-megawatt Baglihar Hydropower Project, the WB had appointed a neutral expert, Raymond Lafitte. He visited the project site besides holding meetings with Indian and Pakistani officials.
During the course of deliberations, Pakistan held that the Baglihar dam would affect the flow of water to its territory, violating the terms of the Indus Water Treaty, one of the most durable agreements between the two countries. Pakistan and India concluded the treaty on September 19, 1960 with the WB a signatory to it.
According to the Treaty, the water of three eastern rivers — Beas, Sutlej, and Ravi have been allocated to India, while three western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab have been given to Pakistan.
Due to modifications in the project, India will divert water that would otherwise flow into Pakistan towards the power plant to generate electricity. India has neither stopped construction on the project nor has given Pakistan information on various modifications. Pakistan says that India should pay compensation to it over the losses incurred to Islamabad.
India says it has already paid its contribution to the WB as compensation to Pakistan.
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