India has served a formal notice to Pakistan seeking a review of the <keyword id="22157166" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indus-Water-Treaty" source="keywords">Indus Water Treaty</keyword>, arguing that "fundamental and unforeseen" changes in the circumstances require a reassessment of the pact. The notice was issued to Pakistan on August 30 under Article XII(3) of the <keyword id="107840" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indus" source="Orion">Indus</keyword> Water Treaty (IWT), government sources said on Wednesday. India and Pakistan signed the IWT on September 19, 1960 after nine years of negotiations, with the <keyword id="19899824" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="World-Bank" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="World Bank" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="World Bank">World Bank</keyword> being a signatory to the pact, which sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two sides on the use of the waters of a number of cross-border rivers. India's notification highlights fundamental and unforeseen changes in circumstances that require a reassessment of obligations under various articles of the treaty, the sources said. Among various concerns, the important ones include a change in population demographics, environmental issues and the need to accelerate the development of clean energy to meet India's emission targets, they said. India has also cited the impact of persistent cross-border terrorism as one of the reasons for demanding the review. "The notification was issued in the background of a separate prolonged controversy with respect to the Kishanganga and Ratle <keyword id="20239151" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="hydro-projects" source="keywords">hydro projects</keyword>," a source said. "In this regard, the World Bank has simultaneously activated both the neutral-expert mechanism and the Court of Arbitration on the same set of issues," the source added. "The Indian side has, therefore, also called for a reconsideration of the dispute-resolution mechanism under the treaty," the source said. India has not cooperated with the Court of Arbitration process to resolve the dispute. New Delhi considers that the start of the two concurrent processes to resolve the dispute violates the provision of the three-step graded mechanism prescribed in the IWT. India has been pushing for the resolution of the dispute through the neutral-expert proceedings. With this notification, India has called on Pakistan to begin government-to-government negotiations in order to review the treaty under the provisions of Article XII(3), the sources said. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/ecommerce/news/amazon-great-indian-festival-sale-to-begin-on-september-27/articleshow/113445238.cms">Amazon Great Indian Festival sale to begin on September 27</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/triumph-speed-t4-launched-in-india-with-a-price-tag-of-2-17-lakh/slidelist/113429766.cms">Triumph Speed T4 launched in India with a price tag of ₹2.17 lakh</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/xiaomi-and-samsung-accused-of-colluding-with-amazon-and-flipkart/articleshow/113381204.cms">Xiaomi and Samsung accused of colluding with Amazon and Flipkart</a>

India serves notice to Pakistan seeking review of Indus Water Treaty

<keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword> has for the first time issued a notice to <keyword id="3001" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="pakistan" source="Orion">Pakistan</keyword>, seeking a review and modification of the Indus Waters Treaty (<keyword id="1523287" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="iwt" source="Orion">IWT</keyword>), in view of Islamabad's "intransigence" to comply with the dispute redressal mechanism of the pact that was signed more than six decades ago for matters relating to cross-border rivers, government sources said on Friday. The notice, sent by India's Indus water commissioner to his Pakistani counterpart on January 25 under the provisions of the pact, seeks Islamabad's response within 90 days for inter-governmental negotiations to "rectify the material breach" of the IWT. Government sources said India's call for the review and modification of the pact is not specific to the dispute resolution mechanism only, and that the negotiations could cover various other provisions of the pact, based on the experiences gained over the last 62 years. India took the significant step around 10 months after the <keyword id="6354424" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="world-bank" source="Orion">World Bank</keyword> announced appointing a neutral expert and a chair of the Court of Arbitration under two separate processes to resolve the differences over the Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects, following Islamabad's refusal to address the matter through talks between the two commissioners. The sources said according to India, the start of the two concurrent processes to resolve the dispute violates the provision of the three-step graded mechanism prescribed in the pact and wondered what will happen if the mechanisms come out with contradictory judgements. India and Pakistan signed the IWT on September 19, 1960 after nine years of negotiations, with the World Bank being a signatory to the pact that sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two sides on the use of the waters of a number of cross-border rivers. "The objective of the notice for modification is to provide Pakistan with an opportunity to enter into intergovernmental negotiations within 90 days to rectify the material breach of the IWT. This process would also update the IWT to incorporate the lessons learned over the last 62 years," a source said. The sources said the immediate trigger to send the notice was Pakistan's "intransigence" for a solution to the differences over the Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects in accordance with the provisions of the IWT. Under the pact, any difference needs to be resolved under a three-stage approach. However, in case of the Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects, the World Bank started two concurrent dispute redressal processes at the insistence of Pakistan, which India felt was a breach of the IWT. Commenting on the Indian move, spokesperson in the Pakistani foreign office <keyword id="4642747" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="mumtaz-zahra-baloch" source="Orion">Mumtaz Zahra Baloch</keyword> said: "As we speak, a court of arbitration is holding its first hearing in The Hague on Pakistan's objections to the Kishanganga and Ratle Hydro Electric projects." "The court of arbitration has been set up under the relevant provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty. Such...reports should not divert attention from the important proceedings of the court of arbitration," she added. The government sources said New Delhi has always been a steadfast supporter and a responsible partner in the implementation of the IWT in its letter and spirit. "However, Pakistan's actions have adversely impinged on the provisions of the IWT and their implementation, and forced India to issue an appropriate notice for a modification of the pact," a source said. In 2015, Pakistan requested for the appointment of a neutral expert to examine its technical objections to India's Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric projects (HEPs). In 2016, Pakistan unilaterally retracted the request and proposed that a court of arbitration adjudicate on its objections, the sources said. The sources said this "unilateral action" by Pakistan was in contravention of the graded mechanism of dispute settlement envisaged by Article IX of the IWT. Accordingly, India made a separate request for the matter to be referred to a neutral expert. "The initiation of two simultaneous processes on the same questions and the potential of their inconsistent or contradictory outcomes create an unprecedented and legally untenable situation, which risks endangering the IWT itself," a source said. "The World Bank acknowledged this in 2016 and took a decision to pause the initiation of two parallel processes and request India and Pakistan to seek an amicable way out," the source added. The sources said despite repeated efforts by India to find a mutually agreeable way forward, Pakistan refused to discuss the issue during the five meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission from 2017 to 2022. At Pakistan's continuing insistence, the World Bank last year initiated actions on both the neutral expert and court of arbitration processes, they said, adding that such parallel consideration of the same issues is not covered under any provision of the IWT. "Faced with such a violation of IWT provisions, India has been compelled to issue the notice of modification," one of the sources said. Under the provisions of the IWT, in case of any questions on any project or initiative, the Indus commissioners attempt to resolve those under the first step. If they fail, then the questions become "differences" and the World Bank has to appoint "neutral experts". If the "neutral experts" fail to find a resolution, the differences become disputes and, in such a scenario, the World Bank has to appoint a court of arbitration to find a way out, the sources said. In the case of the Kishenganga and Ratle Hydro Electric Projects, Pakistan asked for the appointment of neutral experts in 2015. Subsequently, it demanded the appointment of the court of arbitration in 2016, skipping the second stage of the dispute redressal, they said. In 2016, the World Bank followed the processes of finding a resolution by the neutral experts as well as the CoA following Pakistan's insistence. India, at that point, wondered what would happen if the two mechanisms came out with contradictory outcomes, the sources said. Following India's objections, the World Bank put a pause on both the processes and asked the two sides to resolve the matter at the meetings of the Indus commission. The pause was withdrawn in March last year, they said. In March last year, the World Bank announced starting the two concurrent processes and subsequently, appointed a neutral expert and a chair of the CoA. When the two concurrent processes resumed in March last year, India only cooperated with the neutral expert and has been skipping the process being followed by the CoA. "Now we have reached a stage that if we allow both the processes to move forward, it may result in contradictory judgements and will put a question mark over the integrity of the treaty itself. That is the immediate and legal reason for the modification of the treaty," a source said. The sources said India has learnt many lessons over the last 62 years and it feels it is time to make the treaty "more up to date". There is a provision in the treaty for modification and there could be many things that India may like to change or Pakistan may like to change. Under the IWT, all the waters of the eastern rivers -- Sutlej, Beas and Ravi -- amounting to around 33 million acre feet (MAF) annually, is allocated to India for unrestricted use. The waters of the western rivers -- Indus, Jhelum and Chenab -- amounting to around 135 MAF annually, have been assigned largely to Pakistan. India is permitted to construct the run of the river plants on the western rivers with a limited storage, according to the criteria specified in the treaty. According to the provisions of Article VIII(5) of the IWT, the Permanent Indus Commission is required to meet at least once a year. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/adani-group-companies-lose-3-22-lakh-crore-in-market-value-amidst-tussle-with-hindenburg-research/articleshow/97374612.cms">Adani Group companies lose ₹3.22 lakh crore in market value amidst tussle with Hindenburg Research</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/adani-enterprises-20000-crore-fpo-now-open-analysts-maintain-cautious-optimism/articleshow/97369358.cms">Adani Enterprises’ ₹20,000 crore FPO now open, analysts maintain cautious optimism</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tata-motors-in-top-gear-reports-net-profit-of-2958-crore-in-q3-its-first-after-seven-quarters/articleshow/97319081.cms">Tata Motors In Top Gear: Reports net profit of ₹2,958 crore in Q3, its first after seven quarters</a>

India issues notice to Pak seeking review, modification of Indus Waters Treaty

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/54545666.cms" /> 
 Pakistan is worried as India’s decided to review decades old <keyword id="146625" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indus-water">Indus Water</keyword> treaty. In a counterattack, the nuclear-armed neighbor has threatened to petition the <keyword id="70191" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="International-Court-of-Justice">International Court of Justice</keyword>. 
 Pakistan Prime Minister <keyword id="6576" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nawaz-Sharif">Nawaz Sharif</keyword>’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs, <keyword id="1679706" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sartaj-Aziz">Sartaj Aziz</keyword>, said if India violates the treaty, Pakistan will approach the International Court of Justice. 
 "According to international law India can't unilaterally separate itself from the treaty," said Sartaj Aziz, according to reports, adding, “The treaty (Indus Waters Treaty) was not suspended even during the <keyword id="6376114" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kargil">Kargil</keyword> and the Siachen wars.” 
 India is mulling to suspend the meeting regarding the <keyword id="162840" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indus-Water-Commission">Indus Water Commission</keyword>. 
 "Blood and water cannot flow simultaneously," Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> told a meeting to review the Indus Waters Treaty. The meeting was held to discuss ways to make Pakistan pay for the terrorist attack on the <keyword id="71431" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Uri">Uri</keyword> attack. It was also decided to increase the retaliation against the country. 
 
As sources said, India could even consider walking out of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) if Pakistan does not rein in terrorists, adding that the water-sharing pact is not sacrosanct. 
(image:indiatimes)

India’s review of Indus Water treaty has made Pakistan nervous

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/57605278.cms" /> So what does UP’s massive win for <keyword id="14666" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP">BJP</keyword> has anything to do with India’s relationship with Pakistan and <keyword id="6354759" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</keyword>? As commoners, while we struggle to decipher, the experts suggest, this was a much needed push <keyword id="6354642" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Modi">Modi</keyword> needed. 
 Now that Modi has understood his strength within the country, it will help him to control the international talks with neighbouring countries. For the party that rules the centre, wining state elections isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. However having successfully done that, Modi is now in a situation where he can deal good with Bangladesh and <keyword id="12266" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nepal">Nepal</keyword>. While Bangladesh Prime Minister <keyword id="66026" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sheikh-Hasina">Sheikh Hasina</keyword> visits India next month, Modi would go into a resource sharing relationship with Bangladesh. 
 However, dealing with Pakistan is Modi’s prime challenge. The Indian army has done a few surgical strikes soon after and the Indus Waters Treaty after the <keyword id="6439316" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="URI-ATTACK">Uri Attack</keyword> last year. While routine meetings and prisoners’ exchange are still on track, it is assumed that Modi may reach out to immediate neighbour to strike a deal.

Victory in UP may help Modi to act tough with Pakistan. Here's how

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/54310154.cms" /> 
(Image: BCCL) 
 <keyword id="6354780" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Karnataka">Karnataka</keyword> is going through a rough phase. There has been curfew, deaths, protests and crores of rupees loss of public property over last 24 hours. 
 
It’s been more than hundred years and yet the distribution of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-Drought-Series-Nearly-3-1-crore-people-in-Karnataka-are-hit-by-the-drought-and-migration-is-intensifying/articleshow/51979749.cms">Cauvery River’s</a> water is in a mess. Given the present situations, it’s far from getting resolved. It’s not the first time that two states are fighting over a river. The history has seen it all. The war of water between <keyword id="6354759" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</keyword> and <keyword id="6357783" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="West-Bengal">West Bengal</keyword> over Farakka barrage and now the <keyword id="763269" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Teesta-river">Teesta River</keyword> and the Punjab- <keyword id="41646" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Haryana">Haryana</keyword> conflict over Sutlej-Yamuna link are similar in nature as the <keyword id="6354543" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Cauvery">Cauvery</keyword> issue.<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-Drought-Series-Nearly-3-1-crore-people-in-Karnataka-are-hit-by-the-drought-and-migration-is-intensifying/articleshow/51979749.cms"> Agriculture</a> of both Karnataka and <keyword id="20154" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="tamil-nadu">Tamil Nadu</keyword> are dependent on the river that originates at <keyword id="65856" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kodagu">Kodagu</keyword> in Karnataka and flows for 765 km before meeting the <keyword id="55869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bay-of-Bengal">Bay of Bengal</keyword> in Tamil Nadu. The strategic course that the river takes during its flow has made it a villain for many years on the distribution of water issue. 
 
Current scenario If Karnataka decides to distribute water to Tamil Nadu as per their demand, the former wont have much left. According to the data provided by <keyword id="6357283" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Central-Water-Commission">Central Water Commission</keyword> (<keyword id="54702" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="CWC">CWC</keyword>), Karnataka’s reservoirs this year were 30% below the normal water level compared to Tamil Nadu’s shortage of 49%. 
 The main reservoirs in the two states’ catchment areas include <keyword id="864488" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Krishna-Raja-Sagara">Krishna Raja Sagara</keyword> dam in <keyword id="6355147" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mandya">Mandya</keyword> district, <keyword id="891106" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Kabini">Kabini</keyword> in Mysore, Harangi in Kodagu and <keyword id="279522" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hemavathi">Hemavathi</keyword> in Hassan; Mettur dam in <keyword id="6357470" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Salem">Salem</keyword> and <keyword id="3003304" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhavanisagar-dam">Bhavanisagar Dam</keyword> in Erode. All these reservoirs have reportedly 46% less water than normal and 27% lesser water than last year. In short, the situation is quite grim for both states, as per the CWC report. 
 
A third party needs to intervene 
No matter how much these two states fight, there would be no solid solution ever. There needs to be a third party intervention to resolve this issue. A third party can solve things like nobody else. A good example of third party intervention can be the Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan. This was brokered by <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-Drought-Series-Nearly-3-1-crore-people-in-Karnataka-are-hit-by-the-drought-and-migration-is-intensifying/articleshow/51979749.cms">World Bank</a>, which was signed on September 19, 1960 by Indian Prime Minister <keyword id="6360386" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jawaharlal-Nehru">Jawaharlal Nehru</keyword> and President of Pakistan <keyword id="27721" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="ayub-khan">Ayub Khan</keyword>. 
 
Since the ratification of the treaty in 1960, India and Pakistan have not engaged in any water wars. Most disagreements and disputes have been settled via legal procedures, provided for within the framework of the treaty. The treaty is considered to be one of the most successful water-sharing endeavours in the world today even though analysts acknowledge the need to update certain technical specifications and expand the scope of the document to include climate change. As per the provisions in the treaty, India can use only 20% of the total water carried by the Indus River. 
 
Weapon of politics 
As things get murkier the in Karnataka, it’s a hint that the issue wouldn’t get settled as easily as expected. When a crisis becomes a weapon of politics, it is no longer an issue to be solved. Rather it becomes more of a chance for the political parties to milk the situation. In this political game, the crisis has surpassed the actual need of water, the need of the agriculture and become a war of egos between the two states. It’s a motive of victory than a solution that matters to the common people caught in the crossfire. The threat of not sharing a drop of water would gain more brownies for the parties in both the states rather than finding a lighted avenue to the dead end. 
 
It’s a murderous rage 
If media reports are to be believed, Tamil channels and movies have been unofficially banned in Karnataka. This gives proof to the fact that the fight over Cauvery’s water has actually delineated to become a war between two states. Even if the situation can be solved by the two ruling parties of the states through dialogue, there is no indication for the public rage incited by these parties subsiding anytime soon. 
 
Where lies the solution? <keyword id="2262165" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sanjeev-Kumar-Balyan">Sanjeev Kumar Balyan</keyword>, Minister of State for <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-Drought-Series-Nearly-3-1-crore-people-in-Karnataka-are-hit-by-the-drought-and-migration-is-intensifying/articleshow/51979749.cms">Water Resources</a> has proposed that issue of river water distribution needs to be scrapped from the State list of constitution and added to the Concurrent List so that the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/The-Drought-Series-Nearly-3-1-crore-people-in-Karnataka-are-hit-by-the-drought-and-migration-is-intensifying/articleshow/51979749.cms">Centre </a>has its say as well. 
 The <keyword id="155317" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Republican">republican</keyword> set up of India has often been blamed for the centre hijacking power from the states to use it to dictate its own benefit. That is definitely something not so praiseworthy. However in the water distribution issue, the centre needs to have a say. 
 
The Cauvery issue keeps on recurring. 70 odd years have passed and the states couldn’t come up with a solution. Both the states are well aware of the fact that being adamant and sticking to illogical reasoning wouldn’t fetch any result. But for the game to be played in a gentleman’s way, the rules call for a quick change of perspective.

You Searched For "Indus Water Treaty" and got 5 results

India serves notice to Pakistan seeking review of Indus Water Treaty

PTI

India issues notice to Pak seeking review, modification of Indus Waters Treaty

PTI

India’s review of Indus Water treaty has made Pakistan nervous

BI India Bureau

Victory in UP may help Modi to act tough with Pakistan. Here's how

BI India Bureau

Hey Karnataka, why so angry?

Suchayan Mandal