No agreement reached on Indus Water Treaty: World Bank

ANI  |  Washington [United States] 

No agreement was reached during the meeting held between Bank and a four-member delegation on May 21-22 on Indus Treaty.

However, it will continue to work with both countries to resolve the issues in an amicable manner and in line with the Treaty provisions, it added.

The Pakistani delegation raised the issue of India's alleged violation of the and opportunities within the Treaty to seek a resolution with the Bank.

It also raised concerns about the recent inauguration of the Kishenganga hydroelectric plant in Jammu and Kashmir's district.

The talks took place after Narendra Modi, on May 19, inaugurated the 330-MW Kishanganga hydroelectric project.

Earlier on May 18, raised concern about the hydroelectric plant, saying it will violate the Indus Treaty that regulates the use of waters in the shared rivers and protested against the construction of the project.

However, as per India, it is permitted to construct the Kishanganga (330 megawatts) and Ratle (850 megawatts) hydroelectric power plants on Jhelum and the as specified in the Indus Treaty.

also argues that the treaty also allows "other uses", including the construction of hydroelectric plants.

The is a part of a run-of-the-river hydroelectric scheme that is designed to divert water from the to a power plant in the basin.

The also stretches into Pakistan, which is known as the there.

started work on the Kishanganga project in 2009. However, protested against the construction of the project and took the matter to the at The Hague, which stayed the project for three years.

Ultimately in 2013, the court ruled that the Kishanganga project was "a run-of-river plant within the parameters of the Indus Water Treaty and that may accordingly divert water from the for power generation".

The project was then fast-tracked by Modi-led government after it came into power in May 2014.

The is a water-distribution agreement between India and Pakistan that paves way for a cooperative framework for both the countries to address current and future challenges of effective water management.

The treaty was signed in on September 19, 1960, by then of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and then of Pakistan

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, May 23 2018. 10:20 IST