India likely to submit annual report on Indus waters before June 1

LAHORE: India is expected to submit annual report of Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) before June 1, 2017 to Pakistan under the arrangements of Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) despite all hostilities between the two South Asian countries, official sources said on Tuesday.

“As far as implementation of Indus Waters Treaty is concerned, things are not being resolved at the traditional or required pace, but at least we can say that both the countries are mostly on track for fulfilling their obligations under the treaty,” said a senior official of the commission.

It is stated in paragraph eight of IWT Article VIII, which elaborates details of PIC that “the Commission shall submit to the government of India and to the government of Pakistan, before the first of June of every year, a report on its work for the year ended on the preceding 31st of March”.

Senior official said Pakistan has already sent the annual report to Indian Commission for Indus Waters electronically. “We are waiting for their response, and are optimistic that the Indian side would fulfil their obligation before the end of the current month.”

Officials said the annual exchange of report generally happened at a meeting of both commissions in the previous years, but there have been hitches since Narendra Modi assumed power in India. However, the first formal meeting of both commissioners was held in Islamabad in March this year after a gap of more than one-and-half years.

As per Article 8(5) of the treaty, meeting of both the commissions is a must at least once in a year, with the additional provision of holding meeting whenever requested by either commissioner. It is stated in the treaty that the commission should meet regularly at least once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan.

“This regular annual meeting shall be held in November or in such other month as may be agreed upon between the commissioners,” the treaty states. In a related development, India has not yet positively responded on Pakistan’s request for inspection of dam sties being built or planned on Rive Chenab in Indian held Kashmir. Pakistan formally asked India for inspection of various water and power projects being constructed on Chenab River a couple of months back.

“We have asked for site visit of Baglihar Hydropower Project, Pakal Dul Hydro Power Project, Salal Hydroelectric project, Sawalkot Dam, and Bursar Dam,” said an official. He added that India would propose the schedule of visit in response to the letter written by Pakistan commissioner to his counterpart.  The official said India was bound to facilitate Pakistan in inspection of these sites under the provision of Indus Waters Treaty.

As per section D, Article VIII of IWT, the commissioner of either country was bound to undertake a prompt tour of inspection of such works or sites on the rivers as might be considered necessary by him for ascertaining the facts connected with those works or sites.  Since signing of the treaty, more than one hundred meetings have been held between the two countries, which show a frequency of more than two meetings a year.