Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

Amir Mir

LAHORE: Despite foreseeing a World Bank verdict on the controversial Baglihar dam in its favour next week, Pakistan feels it is unlikely that the WB panel will ask India to stop the hydropower project on River Chenab in Kashmir. However, the panel may ask India to modify the design of the project.

According to sources in the foreign office, there are bleak chances of Islamabad moving some international forum like the International Court of Justice against the verdict.

“Over 80 per cent of work on Baglihar has been completed by India and therefore, it seems impossible for the arbitrator to suggest closure of the project. It could ask India to modify it to a run-of-the-river project to satisfy Pakistan to some extent,” a senior official of the Water and Power Ministry in Islamabad said. The official added that the run-of-the-river project was meant to generate electricity without storing water in the reservoir. It would regulate the flow of water in any way.

Following the failure to sort out differences on the proposed design of the 450-megawatt Baglihar Hydropower Project, the WB had appointed a neutral expert, Raymond Lafitte. He visited the project site besides holding meetings with Indian and Pakistani officials.

During the course of deliberations, Pakistan held that the Baglihar dam would affect the flow of water to its territory, violating the terms of the Indus Water Treaty, one of the most durable agreements between the two countries. Pakistan and India concluded the treaty on September 19, 1960 with the WB a signatory to it.

According to the Treaty, the water of three eastern rivers — Beas, Sutlej, and Ravi have been allocated to India, while three western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab have been given to Pakistan.

Due to modifications in the project, India will divert water that would otherwise flow into Pakistan towards the power plant to generate electricity. India has neither stopped construction on the project nor has given Pakistan information on various modifications. Pakistan says that India should pay compensation to it over the losses incurred to Islamabad.

India says it has already paid its contribution to the WB as compensation to Pakistan

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

lol blow up the dam ... voila problem solved.:D ...

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

Did Pakistan have a good case? Any experts here?

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

According to the Indus Water Treaty the three rivers that pakistan got India can use their water for generation of power as long as the design of the project doesnt incorporate storage..................But in this case Bagliar has a complete lake for storage of water which makes it illegal for them to do but who cares......They will do it regardless of what WB decide or whatever Pakistan do.....Thats just how it is we dont have to and shouldnt accept this because the very chronic shortage of water that has been predicted to hit the region in the next 10-15 years means we have to fight for every drop literally

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

Denada,
Link pls...

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

Did Pakistan have a strong case, to spend so much to go to World Bank?

World Bank expert clears Baglihar project

A neutral expert appointed by the World Bank has cleared the Baglihar Power Project in Jammu and Kashmir and asked India to reduce the height of the dam by 1.5 metre.

The expert overruled Pakistan’s other technical objections.

http://www.ibnlive.com/news/wb-expert-clears-baglihar-project/top/33366-3.html

The expert, Raymond Lafitte was appointed after Pakistan demanded arbitration. Neither the World Bank nor the two governments are under any obligation though to make details public.

However, Pakistan said that it would abide by the verdict of the World Bank appointed neutral expect on the dispute over Baglihar power project being built on river Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir.

“The neutral expert’s verdict is binding,” PTI quoted Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam saying.

When asked why the two countries could not resolve the differences through the dialogue process, she defended Islamabad’s decision to approach the World Bank saying that “there is a provision in the Indus Waters Treaty on the basis of which we sought the role of the neutral expert”.

India and Pakistan were awaiting the decision keenly as it has been nagging their ties for over two decades.

Pakistan had in 2005 sought intervention of the World Bank, which is the third party to the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, alleging that construction of the project violated the accord. India has rejected the charge.

According to the provisions of the treaty, the neutral expert’s decision on all matters will be final and binding.

In electricity-deficit Jammu and Kashmir the 450-MW power project will come as a big relief. The complete project is designed to produce 900 MW of power.

Pakistan has opposed the construction of the project, particularly the design and height of the dam.

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

http://thenews.jang.com.pk/updates.asp#17720

apparently WB accepted 3 point out of 4 from PAkistan. dont know how indian media twisting failure to success. Pakistan never objected to entire dam but its storage and control over its rightful water of chenab.

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/113035.php/WBs-neutral-experts-verdict-on-Baglihar-Dam-may-not-end-dispute-say-experts

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

Well shak, it appears that our media is spinning as well. The expert has agreed to Pak objections on height but has rejected our claim on gated spillways. This means that India can have gated spillways which allow it to store water and release at will.

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

well the dam will produce electricity for energy starved kashmir.

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

^^ and it will starve pakistan of fresh water

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

^^ then why you people say that u can sacrifice anything for kashmiris.

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

umm, how do you know the elctricity produced is for Kashmir? Im willing to bet that the electricity produced from the power plant will probably be diverted to indic-majoirty states....I

Taliban abducts, beheads Sikhs in Peshawar
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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

Sacrafice our river? Its the backbone of the country! Are you stupid or are you blind?!

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

Pakistan won on points.

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

But does it feel like "victory"? India was ready to reduce the height and make other minor changes as per the WB judgment even before we went to the arbitrator.

In 2003, if Pakistanis were told that the World Bank will allow India to keep the Baglihar dam, have gated spillways to control and store water and not rule that the storage dam is in total violation of the treaty, most of us would see it as totally unacceptable. Today India is weeks from dam completion and they are "forced" to make minor changes (reduce height by 1.5m in a 200m dam). This decision means that the Indians can build similar storage dams in Neelum and Jhelum as well, both of which currently totally belong to us as per treaty.

If this is victory, then I don't know what defeat looks like.

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

To start with, this is the kind of arguement expected when facts are unknown.

It's a classic example of a dispute which could have been resolved amicably, without involving any third party.
As per Indus Water Treaty(IWT), the rivers like Sutlej, Beas and Ravi are allocated to India and three western rivers namely Indus, Jhelum and Chinab go to Pakistan.
The Indus Water Treaty has stood the test of time for more than 45 years, not to mention, during all last 3 major armed conflicts and it continues to hold good for other rivers!!

Based on this, in 2005, the water secretary of India held discussions with Pakistan and it was agreed by India that they can reduce the height of Dam, if Pakistan wants so, since the river Chinab is allocated to Pakistan as per IWT.

Pakistan raised another objection of gates beneath the Pondage, claiming it was not needed to produce electricity.India was accused that the gate is built to flood Pakistani side in times of war and hostilities.
Indian side explained that according to IWT, the pondage could be calculated either on the basis of design or operation and India had it considering operation. This was the cause of "dispute", as Pakistan insisted it should be considering design. Indian side maintained their stand giving reference to various other similiar projects in other parts of India where operation was of importance.
But all of a sudden talks collapsed, when Pakistani side took a U turn and demanded not only to scrap the entire project, but also started dimplomatic offensive by briefing envoys from China and USA . This alarmed Indian ministry and parliament of India was briefed about whole issue during question hour. I was amused while watching this live broadcast, when our misnister said that they were ready to brief US and Russian envoys in case Pakistan escalates the problem till UN security council to link the whole issue with Kashmir dispute.
However, later they were left with no option but approach world bank arbitration as IWT was still holding good.

Now since, both sides have found a "solution", by agreeing for 1.5m reduction of dam height, I am still wondering, what was the need to waste time and finance when height reduction was already agreed by India??...

As I said this serves a classic example, how we resolve the disputes by involving "third party", which can be resolved amicably. By the way even if a "third party" like world bank takes any decision, they are not binding to any of these two countries!!

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

Correct!
In fact, it's only few people in this forum who say that they can sacrifice for Kashmiris. The senior politicians and military rulers, as usual, think for their regional welfare first.
Sundeep Waslekar, President of the Strategic Foresight Group, in his work ‘The Final Settlement writes, “The army leadership is keen on ensuring water supply to Punjab at the cost of Sindh. Senior officers, including General Pervez Musharraf, have purchased land in Punjab.”
“There is a direct conflict between and people of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan wants the Kashmir Valley and part of Jammu to be able to build dams to divert rivers for Punjab’s benefit at the cost of Kashmiris,” points out Waslekar.

~~~ Missing someone ~~~
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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

LOL, an indic looking out for Kashmiri’s best intrests?!??!!? :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: Im willing ot bet the electricity produced in Balighar will go to shudar-indic-dominated states :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

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Re: Pak losing its case on Baglihar dam

but you raise a valid point, punjab wouldnt have an economy period if it wasnt for Kashmir because the water that flows into the indus, you know where it comes from? the melting snow in northern kashmir pretty much provides all of pakistans rivers with waters......but dude baglihar dam producing electrcing for Kashmiris??/ biggest bull$hit i ever heard.