India plans to grab more Pak water as rulers look on
August 13, 2013
ISLAMABAD: Institutional incompetence and apathy of successive rulers and key water managers of the country have encouraged the presently warmongering India to further its water offensive against Pakistan.
Besides constructing dams, one after the other, on Pakistani rivers in violation of Indus Waters Treaty between the two countries, the latter is now hotly pursuing a project to link Chenab with the Indian Beas River.
According to documents the Indian regime had even allocated funds in its Budget 2011-2012 of Ministry of Water Resources of the Government of India, for preparation of a detailed design to link Chenab River with Beas River through Gyspa Dam (being built on Chenab river) to Solong Nala by constructing a 23 kilometers long concrete tunnel.
“It would be a far more serious blow to our water rights compared to the violations like Baglihar, Kishangnga and Ratle projects by India,” a non-governmental Pakistani water expert Arshad H Abbasi said when approached, warning: “If materialised and not stopped, it would be the biggest water dacoity by India.”
Tender for detailed design of Gyspa Dam on Pakistani river, having live storage capacity of one million acre feet, was floated in October 2009. “Now the Dam is ready for construction but there has been no conspicuous reaction shown by the government of Pakistan on this issue,” lamented Arshad Abbasi.
The documents show that the high court of Himachal Pradesh had ruled against the construction of Gyspa Dam following the petition filed by local community and Indian environmentalists and observed that it would create unnecessary conflict with Pakistan on water sharing issues.
In their petition to Governor Himachal Pradesh, the environmentalists of India had even warned, “The Dam site also borders China and Pakistan thereby it is strategically very sensitive. Displacing inhabitants from such strategic areas would invite uncalled security threat.
Further, the Bhaga River which is a tributary of Chenab, whose water usage is governed under Indus Waters Treaty, 1960 with Pakistan. By building this dam would create unnecessary conflict with Pakistan on water sharing issues.’
According to sources, after going ahead with the controversial project of Gyspa Dam India is diverting water of Chenab to Beas River by Building Jyspa Dam on Chenab River at the village in Lahaul and Spiti district, in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
The waters of Chenab River will be diverted into Solong Nala a tributary of Beas River, the source said, adding that the detail project report (DPRs) is under preparation after completing the detail feasibility report.
This project is considered a gross violation of the Indus Waters Treaty, which gave the use of the Eastern Rivers- Sutlej, Beas and Ravi- to India, while giving the use of the Western Rivers- Indus, Jhelum and Chenab- to Pakistan.
As against the apathy of Pakistani authorities to defend and protect the country’s water rights, the environmentalist and local community of Himachal Pradesh started a campaign against Gyspa dam in 2010, which ultimately drew attention of the High Court, which took suo moto notice and constituted a committee on hydro projects, headed by Avey Shukla, additional secretary forest HP.
In its decision on July 20, 2010, the HP High Court categorically directed GOI (Government of India) that “hydro projects above 7,000ft (above tree line) should not be built”. Therefore, the Gyspa dam that is proposed to be built at an altitude of 10,800ft in an ecologically and geologically fragile zone. This goes against the committee’s recommendations, yet violating the judgment of apex court of Himachal Pradesh. Indian Government is going to start Jyspa dam so that water of Chenab River can be diverted to Beas and then Ganga River Basin.
Sources demand that there is a dire need to find snakes in our grass to protect and guard the water rights of Pakistan. In the past there have been reports published about the alleged link of Pakistan’s key water managers with India besides the reported alleged deliberate losing of a water dispute with India in the International Court of Arbitration by Pak representatives.
Through its unending violations of Indus Waters Treaty, India has actually launched water war with Pakistan to sabotage the economy of Pakistan. In India, it is said that a team of dedicated professionals at Planning Commission is providing full technical support of Indus Water Commissioner India, whereas in Pakistan tainted water quacks are running the show.
Besides constructing dams, one after the other, on Pakistani rivers in violation of Indus Waters Treaty between the two countries, the latter is now hotly pursuing a project to link Chenab with the Indian Beas River.
According to documents the Indian regime had even allocated funds in its Budget 2011-2012 of Ministry of Water Resources of the Government of India, for preparation of a detailed design to link Chenab River with Beas River through Gyspa Dam (being built on Chenab river) to Solong Nala by constructing a 23 kilometers long concrete tunnel.
“It would be a far more serious blow to our water rights compared to the violations like Baglihar, Kishangnga and Ratle projects by India,” a non-governmental Pakistani water expert Arshad H Abbasi said when approached, warning: “If materialised and not stopped, it would be the biggest water dacoity by India.”
Tender for detailed design of Gyspa Dam on Pakistani river, having live storage capacity of one million acre feet, was floated in October 2009. “Now the Dam is ready for construction but there has been no conspicuous reaction shown by the government of Pakistan on this issue,” lamented Arshad Abbasi.
The documents show that the high court of Himachal Pradesh had ruled against the construction of Gyspa Dam following the petition filed by local community and Indian environmentalists and observed that it would create unnecessary conflict with Pakistan on water sharing issues.
In their petition to Governor Himachal Pradesh, the environmentalists of India had even warned, “The Dam site also borders China and Pakistan thereby it is strategically very sensitive. Displacing inhabitants from such strategic areas would invite uncalled security threat.
Further, the Bhaga River which is a tributary of Chenab, whose water usage is governed under Indus Waters Treaty, 1960 with Pakistan. By building this dam would create unnecessary conflict with Pakistan on water sharing issues.’
According to sources, after going ahead with the controversial project of Gyspa Dam India is diverting water of Chenab to Beas River by Building Jyspa Dam on Chenab River at the village in Lahaul and Spiti district, in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.
The waters of Chenab River will be diverted into Solong Nala a tributary of Beas River, the source said, adding that the detail project report (DPRs) is under preparation after completing the detail feasibility report.
This project is considered a gross violation of the Indus Waters Treaty, which gave the use of the Eastern Rivers- Sutlej, Beas and Ravi- to India, while giving the use of the Western Rivers- Indus, Jhelum and Chenab- to Pakistan.
As against the apathy of Pakistani authorities to defend and protect the country’s water rights, the environmentalist and local community of Himachal Pradesh started a campaign against Gyspa dam in 2010, which ultimately drew attention of the High Court, which took suo moto notice and constituted a committee on hydro projects, headed by Avey Shukla, additional secretary forest HP.
In its decision on July 20, 2010, the HP High Court categorically directed GOI (Government of India) that “hydro projects above 7,000ft (above tree line) should not be built”. Therefore, the Gyspa dam that is proposed to be built at an altitude of 10,800ft in an ecologically and geologically fragile zone. This goes against the committee’s recommendations, yet violating the judgment of apex court of Himachal Pradesh. Indian Government is going to start Jyspa dam so that water of Chenab River can be diverted to Beas and then Ganga River Basin.
Sources demand that there is a dire need to find snakes in our grass to protect and guard the water rights of Pakistan. In the past there have been reports published about the alleged link of Pakistan’s key water managers with India besides the reported alleged deliberate losing of a water dispute with India in the International Court of Arbitration by Pak representatives.
Through its unending violations of Indus Waters Treaty, India has actually launched water war with Pakistan to sabotage the economy of Pakistan. In India, it is said that a team of dedicated professionals at Planning Commission is providing full technical support of Indus Water Commissioner India, whereas in Pakistan tainted water quacks are running the show.
