MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN

ISLAMABAD ( 2008-11-22 04:31:11 ) :An Indian delegation headed by Permanent Commissioner for Indus Waters (PIWC) Sujay Mathur is reaching Lahore on November 29 to visit Maralla Headworks to verify Pakistan claim of reduction in Chenab inflows. Well informed sources told Business Recorder that the Indian delegation will check the data of inflows of previous months to reach any conclusion.

The sources said, Punjab government would submit its loss assessment report after the harvesting of rice crop in Sialkot and Narowal, which would be forwarded to India for compensation. Presently, Pakistan is urging India to accept that it had violated Indus Water Treaty by reducing Pakistan's water share and demanding compensation for loss.

Earlier, the government on Tuesday announced that it would drag the recalcitrant Indian government into international arbitration if appropriate compensation in the shape of money, or water, was not given to Pakistan for the damage done to matured crops in Punjab due to stoppage of Chenab water in August. The Indus Water Treaty was brokered by the World Bank and it is significant that India, as the upper riparian country, never violated the treaty even during its three wars with Pakistan.

During the government of B.J.P., India commenced violations by first constructing Baglihar Dam and more recently by disallowing the agreed water inflow into Pakistan Chenab. Under the Treaty, India cannot reduce the flow in Chenab River below 55,000 cusecs between June 21 and August 31 whereas Pakistan received as low as a discharge of 20,000 cusecs during August/September 2008.



Copyright Business Recorder, 2008