The Pakistani Spectator

The depleting water resources associate with them a fear that politico- regional conflicts will emerge in much intense form. According to the reports of World Bank and Asian Development Bank, Pakistan is one of the most water stressed countries in the world. The next five years are really crucial as it is apprehended that Pakistan is on the verge of facing an acute water shortage. There will be scarce water for human use, industrial use and for irrigation purpose.

The matters of the distribution of water among provinces were discussed in a meeting of all four Chief Ministers with the President Yusuf Raza Gillani,

some experts maintain that the signing of the Indus Basin Water Treaty had somewhat stunting effects on our agricultural economy. According to Indus Basin Water Treaty, India got the right to fully utilize water from the three Eastern Rivers, Ravi Bias and Sutlej, while Pakistan was to utilize from the three Western rivers. However, the water of Pakistan was not qualified. It is also mentioned in the Treaty that India is bound not to exceed the specified limit for using water. These experts are of the view that the disputes with India are created because the Treaty was not implemented in the real sense of the term.

India is clearly violating IWT when we see that it is using water from the Western rivers beyond a permissible limit of 2.85 MAF. India is an upper riparian state. It has a responsibility to resolve the disputes within the confines of Indus Water Basin Treaty.

According to 26 January 2010 report water level in Tarbela reservoir was 131 feet below maximum and in Mangla it was 128 feet below maximum.There was a shortfall of 1300 megawatts in electric generation. In Mangla dam the water reserves were reduced to only one feet higher than the lowest level of 1040 feet. Only in one day there was the reduction of water which were 5 feet less in Mangla. The reservoir of usable water is just 4500 acres per feet.

Jamat Ali Shah, Pakistan Indus Commissioner while talking to a private TV channel said that although India has the right to construct projects at Indus, Jhelum, Chenab river and can also use water for agriculture purpose but it must inform Pakistan and also should provide design of the projects. Construction of Kishan Ganga project is a clear violation of Indus Basin Water Treaty and if India continues violations, Pakistan would move court.

He was right in pointing out that owing to seasonal changes water level in the rivers decreases, India uses water as per his need and as a result Pakistan will face shortage of water in the rivers. He was also of the opinion that both the countries should solve this issue through negotiations. He also reiterated the same view that Pakistan is getting 135 million feet water. He denounced the Indian view that the allegations of India regarding the fact that Pakistan is wasting water

Addressing a joint press conference with his Indian counterpart at Lahore in February 2010, he said that the formal meeting between two countries would be held in March in which the issues related to water dispute would be solved. During these round of talks, India would present its data on water flow and discharge from Indus. If we look at the factors responsible for reduction of water in Pakistan, we would know that they include an increase in population, climate change, dearth of construction of water reservoirs and misplaced use of water.

The big brother attitude of India poses serious repercussions for Pakistan .If India continues with its practice of building /constructing dams on Chenab and Jhelum rivers, then  Pakistan would face disastrous results .Not only its agriculture system  will suffer but there are serious threats posed to national secrity.

If India intends to launch a military operation against Pakistan and it blocks the water 15 or 20 days before, the BRB canal will be closed. It will be no more an obstacle for defense purpose. BRB is the line of defence in Lahore sector and it extends till Qasur . Its source is from Marala Ravi Link canal. If India opens water, Lahore will be inundated. The defence of Lahore and adjoining areas will be seriously affected. On the other hand the reduced water flow will be taken as Indian attempt to make Pakistan arid and it will also dry up the marshy lands, which also serve as the line of defence.

What is needed is that India should promptly share water flow data and agree to inspections as termed in the Treaty. The dispute between India and Pakistan can be resolved only if the element of politics is delinked from this issue. India should allow the visit of inspection teams from Pakistan to India when required. It should share technical information and data with regard to flow of water of Pakistan. For this purpose a dialogue is incumbent. Negotiations should be carried out.

Then our water and power bureaucracy’s focus should be on hydropower. Another recommendation can be that as many small reservoirs as possible shoud be built in arid zones where occasional bursts would provide sufficient water to be stored. There must be objective and transparent determination by experts. There must be fact-finding and bilateral agreements. The fact remains that the disputes ought to be sorted out by both states on a bilateral basis.

The UN Convention on the uses of International Water Courses 1997 obliges states to conserve, manage and protect international water courses. Pakistan and India are not party to the sad Convention. It is widely viewed as a codification of customary law for legal use and avoids prior notification of any harm. In the same way, the 1992 Convention on Trans-Boundary Water Courses primarily offers another legislative model for India and Pakistan for bilateral co-operation on the issue of handling water scarcity. The fact remains that the issue should be handled by technocrats who have a strong grip on international law, and maritime affairs and who are able to settle the issue sagaciously.

By Shanzeh Iqbal