Govt to take up dams construction issue with Indian FM

ASSOCIATED PRESS SERVICE

ISLAMABAD : Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi Friday assured National Assembly to forcefully take up the upstream dams construction issue with the Indian Foreign Minister during his visit to Pakistan.
“We are cognizant of the issue. Certain violation of the Indus River Treaty have been committed by India and the government would take up the issue with visiting Indian Foreign Minister in May,” Qureshi informed the House in response to a calling attention notice.
MNAs Marvi Memon, Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi and Dr Abdul Kadir Khanzada had drawn the attention of the Minister towards construction of controversial water projects by India on rivers Jehlum and Chenab.
The minister said, India has started some projects on these rivers upstream, that have been designated for Pakistan under 1960 Indus Water Treaty between the two countries.
“Pakistan forcefully took up the Wooller Barrage construction issue earlier with the Indian government through Commission’s permanent representative,” he said.
The minister maintained that an effective monitoring mechanism is in place. Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Water and Power are cognizant of the issue and have raised it with India.
“Water issue is very sensitive. We are not negligent to it and I assure not to repeat the follies of the past,” he said, adding, “this issue has also been made the part of Composite Dialogue.”
To a question, the minister said, though these violation continued over the years, yet the Treaty provides basis for their resolution. “As soon as the matter came to our notice, our representative raised it with Indian government.”
Later, he said, a neutral expert was appointed to investigate the matter and Islamabad had raised four objections with the expert out of which three objections were established as valid.
In case of fourth objection, he said, though it was also valid in our point of view but the expert assessed it according to international standards.
To another question, the minister said, Pakistan desires better relations with neighbouring countries and believes in resolution of disputes through dialogue.
Qureshi said it has been written in the treaty that Pakistan has its right on Jehlum, Chenab and Indus rivers and flow of water cannot be stopped in these rivers.
However, he said, the Treaty provides for use of water from these rivers for domestic, non-consumptive and hydro power generation purposes.
“But, India violated treaty in terms of designs of dams or otherwise, and Pakistan is raising this issue at appropriate forum,” he said and assured, “we would not allow anything that harms our national interest.”