INDUS WATER TREATY

Subject : International Agreements

Context : India justifies designs of PakalDul, Lower Kalnai hydro projects in J-K as Pakistan objects.

Concept :

Pakistan raised objections to the designs of PakalDul and Lower Kalnai hydropower plants in Jammu and Kashmir and sought more information on the projects in Ladakh sanctioned after the abrogation of Article 370 as the Indus Commissioners of the two countries met here on Tuesday, sources said.
The PakalDul Hydro Electric Project (1,000 MW) is proposed on the Marusudar river, a tributary of the Chenab river, in Kishtwar district in Jammu and Kashmir. The Lower Kalnai project is proposed in Kishtwar and Doda districts.
The two sides also discussed a host of other issues under the Indus Waters Treaty during the annual Permanent Indus Commission meeting.

Indus Water Treaty

It is a treaty brokered by the World Bank and signed by then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan which administers how the waters of the Indus and its tributaries that flow in both the countries will be utilized.
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 arbitration mechanism to solve disputes amicably.