World Bank allows India to build Kishanganga-Nightly Project, shocks PAK
Kishanganga-Nightly Project, World Bank gives green signal shocks PAK. On Kishanganga-nightly project, Pakistan has suffered a major setback. The World Bank has allowed India to make power projects under the Indus Water Treaty.
This permission was given in a fact sheet issued on Tuesday after the Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan ended on IWT. The fact sheet says that Pakistan is opposing the construction of the Kishanganga Hydro Project (330 MW) and the Nightly Hydro Project (850 MW).
While India is building these projects The World Bank acknowledged that India has complied with the terms of the Indus Water Treaty on this issue. In such a situation, India is allowed to build Hydro project keeping in view the conditions of the treaty. Kishanganga Hydro Project is proposed to be built on the Jhelum River, while the nightly hydro project is to be built on the Chenab River.
The design of these two projects is favorable to the Indus Water Treaty. Despite this, Pakistan has been protesting against these projects. In the National Assembly of Pakistan, two parliamentary committees had asked India to stop Kishanganga and nightly hydro projects immediately.
After this, the Foreign and Water and Energy Affairs Committees had repeatedly demanded the creation of a mediated court to resolve the issue with the World Bank.
Committees believed that under the Indus Water Treaty, it is the responsibility of the World Bank to resolve the water dispute between the two countries.
The Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan took place in 1960. Under the agreement six water bodies - Beas, Ravi, Sutlej, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum get water from India and Pakistan.
Among other uses, India is permitted to construct hydroelectric power facilities on these rivers subject to constraints specified in annexure to the treaty,” the Bank said in its fact sheet.
-PTC News
