Permanent Indus Commission

Permanent Indus Commission

• It is a bilateral commission of officials from India and Pakistan, created to implement and manage goals of the Indus Waters Treaty, 1960.
• The Commission, according to the treaty, shall meet regularly at least once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan.
• The functions of the Commission include:
  • To study and report to the two Governments on any problem relating to the development of the waters of the rivers.
  • To solve disputes arising over water sharing.
  • To arrange technical visits to projects’ sites and critical river head works.
  • To undertake, once in every five years, a general tour of inspection of the Rivers for ascertaining the facts.
  • To take necessary steps for the implementation of the provisions of the treaty.

Permanent Indus Commission Meeting

• Recently, the 118th meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) comprising Indus Commissioners of India and Pakistan took place.
• The last edition of talks was held in Islamabad on March 1-3, 2022, in which Pakistan had assured India of “all necessary actions” to ensure the free flow of Fazilka drain into the Sutlej river.
  • Fazilka drain is one of 22 drains and water bodies, where untreated water of Malwa district (Punjab, India) is discharged.
  • The drain is closed at the borderline of countries, leading to stagnation in the shape of ponds and deterioration of quality of groundwater in the border area.
• Pakistan highlighted its objections on India’s hydroelectric projects on the Western rivers.
• Response to Pakistan’s objections on Indian projects, including PakalDul, Kiru and Lower Kalnai, was also sought.
  • The PakalDul Hydro Electric Project (1000 MW) is proposed on riverMarusudar, a tributary of Chenab river in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir.
  • Kiru Hydro Electric Project (624 MW) is proposed on River Chenab, located in Kishtwar district of Jammu & Kashmir.
  • Lower Kalnai project is a hydroelectric power project in the Doda and Kishtwar districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
• The Indian side was also urged to communicate advance flood-flow information as per the provisions of the treaty and the practice was in vogue from 1989 until 2018.
• According to the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, around 33-million-acre feet (MAF) water of the eastern rivers — Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi — is allocated to India for unrestricted use annually, and about 135 MAF of western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) largely to Pakistan.
• Under the treaty, India has been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through a run of the river projects on the western rivers subject to specific criteria for design and operation. It also gives the right to Pakistan to raise concerns on the design of Indian hydroelectric projects on the western rivers.

Important provisions in the Treaty

• The treaty also allows Pakistan to raise objections over such projects being built by India, if it does not find them to be compliant with the specifications.
• India has to share information on the project design or alterations made to it with Pakistan, which is required to respond with objections, if any, within three months of receipt.
• Besides, India is allowed to have a minimum storage level on the western rivers – meaning it can store up to 3.75 MAF of water for conservation and flood storage purposes.
• The IWT also provides a three step dispute resolution mechanism, under which “questions” on both sides can be resolved at the Permanent Commission, or can also be taken up at the inter-government level.
• In case of unresolved questions or “differences” between the countries on water-sharing, such as technical differences, either side can approach the World Bank to appoint a Neutral Expert (NE) to come to a decision.
• And eventually, if either party is not satisfied with the NE’s decision or in case of “disputes” in the interpretation and extent of the treaty, matters can be referred to a Court of Arbitration.