Central Govt Calls for Better Utilisation of Rivers in J&K Under Indus Water Treaty

Srinagar: The government on Friday directed senior officials in Jammu and Kashmir to complete works on all Indus Basin Projects to enable "better utilisation" of India's rights under the Indus Water Treaty, an official statement said.

The statement from Pankaj Magotra, Managing Director of the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC), which operates and maintains all power stations and power projects in the region, said that a meeting was held in Srinagar. The meeting was chaired by Vikram Misri, India's Deputy National Security Advisor, who reviewed the progress on hydropower projects in the Union territory.

"It was noted that progress had been made on several fronts, and emphasis was laid on completing the works on all the Indus Basin Projects in a timely manner to enable better utilisation of India's rights under the Indus Waters Treaty," he said.

The meeting was also attended by the principal secretary Power Development Department of the UT and officials of the concerned executing agencies. Senior government officials from ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of External Affairs and Commissioner (Indus) Ministry of Jal Shakti, also attended the meeting.

Misri, who is on a two-day visit to the region, also met with Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and apprised the ongoing works to monitor the implementation of HydroPpwer Projects in the Indus Basin under the directions of the Prime Minister's Office, the statement added.

"The L-G assured full cooperation of the UT administration in this national endeavour," the official spokesman said.

The Deputy NSA also met with top military and security officials and was briefed on the prevailing situation in the valley of Kashmir. He also hailed the role of the concerned stakeholders in the conduct of the recently held G20 working group meeting on Tourism in Srinagar. The G20-related meeting held between May 22-24 was attended by all G20 members except China, who opposed hosting the event in the region.

A model water-sharing treaty signed by the then Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru and Pakistani President Ayub Khan, the Indus Water Treaty was negotiated by the World Bank in 1960. It gave control over the waters of the three eastern rivers, Beas, Ravi and Sutlej, to India, while control over the waters of the three western rivers, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum, was given to Pakistan.

Earlier in January, India issued a notice to Pakistan seeking a review and modification of the treaty for the management of rivers. It also questioned the World Bank's decision to appoint a Court of Arbitration and a neutral expert to resolve disputes over the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.