India Pakistan attended a crucial meet in Vienna for the Indus Water row

Subject :IR

Section: Neighbouring countries

Context: India attended a two-day meeting of the Neutral Expert proceedings in Vienna for Indus Water Row.

More about the news:

A delegation from India, led by the secretary, Department of Water Resources, attended a meeting of the Neutral Expert proceedings in the Kishenganga and Ratle case at the permanent court of arbitration in Vienna on September 20 and 21.
Senior advocate Harish Salve KC was present in the capacity of India’s lead counsel.

What is Indus Water Treaty:

The Treaty is a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank.
The Indus Water Treaty was signed by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and then Pakistani President Mohammed Ayub Khan in Karachi on September 19, 1960, after nine years of negotiations between the two countries.
According to the treaty, waters of the eastern rivers — Sutlej, Beas and Ravi had been allocated to India, while the western rivers — the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab to Pakistan. However, since Indus flows from India, the country is allowed to use 20 percent of its water for irrigation, power generation and transport purposes.
A Permanent Indus Commission was set up as a bilateral commission to implement and manage the Treaty.
The Treaty also provides an arbitration mechanism to solve disputes amicably.

What is the Dispute Resolution Process:

According to Article IX of the treaty that deals with the “Settlement of Differences and Disputes”, there are three possible steps to decide on objections raised by either side.
- Working within the “Permanent Indus Commission” (PIC) of the Indian and Pakistani delegation of water experts that meet regularly.
- Consulting a World Bank-appointed neutral expert.
- Setting up a court process to adjudicate the case through the World Bank and the Permanent Court of Arbitrage (PCA).