MULTAN, Feb 22nd:Water experts and progressive farmers on Saturday expressed their grave concern over Indian designs to divert of the flow of rivers in the Indian Occupied Kashmir and said that any such attempt would devastate Pakistan’s agriculture, the backbone of the country’s economy, besides rattling peace in the South Asian region.
They also warned the federal government to respond quickly to save the future of economy and new generations, as diversion of rivers would convert Pakistan into a desert field, triggering worst food scarcity in the nuclear-armed state.
The Indian design to divert Neelum River at Kishan Ganga site has been exposed days after Indus Water Commissioner of India G Auranga Nathan completed five-day tour to Pakistan and after site inspections, assured Islamabad that New Delhi would not violate Indus Water Treaty, signed between the South Asian powers in 1960.
Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah on Friday disclosed during the meeting of Senate’s Standing Committee on Water and Power that India is all set to divert Neelum River at Kishan Ganga but Pakistan would oppose the project at all forums.
Shah also said that Pakistan would move to international mediators against India for construction of Kishan Ganga Dam to occupy the water or River Neelum. He said that Pakistan is also concerned about the Indian attitude as it had built several hydropower projects at River Sindh.
India has constructed three mega and eight dam projects at River Chenab and 24 such projects are under consideration, Shah said adding, the Baglihar Dam was affecting country’s defence and Pakistan has asked to set telemetry system on the said dam.
He also informed that India wished to construct 54 mini dams on River Jehlum and project of building 10 mini dams on River Sindh is under consideration. Jamaat Ali Shah further said that Pakistan would move to International mediators if India started Wullar Beraj project. Water experts said that on-the-record statement of Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner is more than an eye opener for those sitting at the helm of affairs ‘but only if they are interested to secure the future of new generations.
The growers also urged the federal government to highlight the most important issue, which is vital for the survival of the country at all international forums and convene an international conference of the Friends of Pakistan to sensitise the international community about the water aggression by India.
“Pakistan will be facing a short fall of 102 billion cubic meter of water per year, whereas Bangladesh would have 1133 billion cubic meters of fresh water per year as excess,” Pakistan Water Front Chief said, when contacted. Other South Asian countries, he added, would be facing corresponding shortages of water by 2025.
“Contrary to other regions of Asia and Europe, there has been poor water management in South Asia. India, the major country of the region has been unjustly manipulating the regional water.
Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan are the main victims of Indian water burglary,” Pakistan Mutahidda Kisan Mahaz (PMKM) President Ayub Khan said.
Being upper riparian country, he added, it has frequently violated the 1960 Indus Basin Water Treaty, which clearly lays down the water distribution formula between India and Pakistan. Over the years, India has constructed a number of dams aimed at; either the illegal diversion or storage of the water of Pakistani rivers. Apart from the already constructed, Baglihar Dam on River Chenab, India is constructing over a dozen new dams and barrages over this river, which would reduce 50 per cent water flow for Pakistan, he maintained.
Shamshad Ali, Chief of the Small Farmers Front said, “New Delhi is in the process of diversion of the water of Neelam River; a tributary of the Jhelum through Kishan Ganga Project.”
The Wullar Barrage, also called the Tulbul Navigation Project on the Jhelum is already causing threats of water shortages to all major irrigational canals of Pakistan, in complete violation of Indus Water Treaty.
Uri-I and Uri-II hydropower projects are also in the process of completion. Besides, these two rivers, India is undertaking construction of three dams over Indus River, the lifeline of Pakistan’s irrigational system.
The first of these is the “Nimoo Bazgo” hydelpower project of 45MW near Alchi village, 70 Km from Leh, the capital of Ladakh. The second one is the Dumkhar project of 130MW, located 128 Km on Leh-Khalsi Batalik road. The third one is “Chutak” project on River Suru, the major tributary of the Indus in Kargil area. Most of the preliminary work has been completed in the Nimoo Bazgo project and remaining two would be completed by 2011, water experts said.
Pakistan is passing through the worst energy crises of its history with power shortages ranges from 3,000 to 4500 MW. To meet the energy shortages, natural gas, thermal energy resources, and nuclear energy means are being made use of by the South Asian countries.
Water experts said that India is playing dangerous game by diverting the flow of Pakistani rivers as the water dispute could trigger war between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Already, Pakistan is facing a heavy water shortage especially during the Rabi and Kharif crops. This is more obvious under the prevalent environment, once Pakistan is under the grip of a prolonged dry weather since the last six months.
Allowing India to construct these projects would mean giving it the control of Pakistani water. India will not release enough water, once we need that. However, it would release enough water during monsoons for flooding Pakistan, as was witnessed in 1992 and 2006.
They also warned the federal government to respond quickly to save the future of economy and new generations, as diversion of rivers would convert Pakistan into a desert field, triggering worst food scarcity in the nuclear-armed state.
The Indian design to divert Neelum River at Kishan Ganga site has been exposed days after Indus Water Commissioner of India G Auranga Nathan completed five-day tour to Pakistan and after site inspections, assured Islamabad that New Delhi would not violate Indus Water Treaty, signed between the South Asian powers in 1960.
Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah on Friday disclosed during the meeting of Senate’s Standing Committee on Water and Power that India is all set to divert Neelum River at Kishan Ganga but Pakistan would oppose the project at all forums.
Shah also said that Pakistan would move to international mediators against India for construction of Kishan Ganga Dam to occupy the water or River Neelum. He said that Pakistan is also concerned about the Indian attitude as it had built several hydropower projects at River Sindh.
India has constructed three mega and eight dam projects at River Chenab and 24 such projects are under consideration, Shah said adding, the Baglihar Dam was affecting country’s defence and Pakistan has asked to set telemetry system on the said dam.
He also informed that India wished to construct 54 mini dams on River Jehlum and project of building 10 mini dams on River Sindh is under consideration. Jamaat Ali Shah further said that Pakistan would move to International mediators if India started Wullar Beraj project. Water experts said that on-the-record statement of Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner is more than an eye opener for those sitting at the helm of affairs ‘but only if they are interested to secure the future of new generations.
The growers also urged the federal government to highlight the most important issue, which is vital for the survival of the country at all international forums and convene an international conference of the Friends of Pakistan to sensitise the international community about the water aggression by India.
“Pakistan will be facing a short fall of 102 billion cubic meter of water per year, whereas Bangladesh would have 1133 billion cubic meters of fresh water per year as excess,” Pakistan Water Front Chief said, when contacted. Other South Asian countries, he added, would be facing corresponding shortages of water by 2025.
“Contrary to other regions of Asia and Europe, there has been poor water management in South Asia. India, the major country of the region has been unjustly manipulating the regional water.
Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan are the main victims of Indian water burglary,” Pakistan Mutahidda Kisan Mahaz (PMKM) President Ayub Khan said.
Being upper riparian country, he added, it has frequently violated the 1960 Indus Basin Water Treaty, which clearly lays down the water distribution formula between India and Pakistan. Over the years, India has constructed a number of dams aimed at; either the illegal diversion or storage of the water of Pakistani rivers. Apart from the already constructed, Baglihar Dam on River Chenab, India is constructing over a dozen new dams and barrages over this river, which would reduce 50 per cent water flow for Pakistan, he maintained.
Shamshad Ali, Chief of the Small Farmers Front said, “New Delhi is in the process of diversion of the water of Neelam River; a tributary of the Jhelum through Kishan Ganga Project.”
The Wullar Barrage, also called the Tulbul Navigation Project on the Jhelum is already causing threats of water shortages to all major irrigational canals of Pakistan, in complete violation of Indus Water Treaty.
Uri-I and Uri-II hydropower projects are also in the process of completion. Besides, these two rivers, India is undertaking construction of three dams over Indus River, the lifeline of Pakistan’s irrigational system.
The first of these is the “Nimoo Bazgo” hydelpower project of 45MW near Alchi village, 70 Km from Leh, the capital of Ladakh. The second one is the Dumkhar project of 130MW, located 128 Km on Leh-Khalsi Batalik road. The third one is “Chutak” project on River Suru, the major tributary of the Indus in Kargil area. Most of the preliminary work has been completed in the Nimoo Bazgo project and remaining two would be completed by 2011, water experts said.
Pakistan is passing through the worst energy crises of its history with power shortages ranges from 3,000 to 4500 MW. To meet the energy shortages, natural gas, thermal energy resources, and nuclear energy means are being made use of by the South Asian countries.
Water experts said that India is playing dangerous game by diverting the flow of Pakistani rivers as the water dispute could trigger war between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
Already, Pakistan is facing a heavy water shortage especially during the Rabi and Kharif crops. This is more obvious under the prevalent environment, once Pakistan is under the grip of a prolonged dry weather since the last six months.
Allowing India to construct these projects would mean giving it the control of Pakistani water. India will not release enough water, once we need that. However, it would release enough water during monsoons for flooding Pakistan, as was witnessed in 1992 and 2006.
