Pak to claim compensation for water blockade by India

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is planning to claim compensation from India for the agriculture loss to it allegedly due to 'stoppag' of water flow into the Chenab river by New Delhi.
    
It has also sought an emergency meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission to discuss the alleged water blockade. The reduction in river flow has caused substantial losses to standing Kharif crops in many areas of Punjab province, officials here claimed.
    
Water and Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf is holding a meeting here to discuss the procedure for demanding compensation, Pakistan's Indus Water Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah said.
    
He claimed India had stopped 200,000 acre-feet water from August 1 to September 12 to fill the Baglihar Dam lake in Jammu and Kashmir.
    
Punjab Irrigation Adviser Mehmoodul Hassan said water level in all the canals flowing from the Chenab had fallen by 40 per cent, posing threat to the per acre production of rice and cotton.
    
Pakistan had sought World Bank arbitration after raising objection to Baglihar dam over Chanab river, arguing that it violates the Indus Water Treaty of 1960. However, the WB-appointed neutral expert gave verdict in favour of India with suggestions for marginal changes in the design.