Srinagar/Kishtwar: A large Indo-Pakistan delegation, accompanied by neutral experts, commenced inspections of two power projects in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Monday under the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), officials confirmed.
The 40-member delegation arrived in Jammu on Sunday evening before flying to Kishtwar early Monday morning to assess ongoing power projects in the Chenab valley region, officials stated. This marks Pakistan's first delegation visit to Jammu and Kashmir in over five years under the treaty's dispute settlement mechanism established in 1960 with mediation by the World Bank.
The visit is part of the dispute resolution mechanism under the water-sharing Indus Water Treaty (IWT). The dispute resolution was initiated by India and Pakistan is the respondent in the case.
There is no official word about the details of the visit. However, the Neutral Expert has been appointed by the Bank on India’s request to decide the “differences” that India and Pakistan have over two hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir – the operational 330-MW Kishanganga in Gurez and the upcoming 850-MW Ratle project in Chenab Valley.
While Kishanganga is wholly owned by the NHPC, India’s hydropower giant, it, however, controls only 51 per cent of the Ratle as the Joint Venture gives JKSPDC a 49 per cent stake.
Previously, a three-member Pakistani delegation inspected these projects in January 2019, just before diplomatic relations froze following the scrapping of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status (Article 370 of the Indian Constitution).
The administration has put the services of 25 JKAS officers at the disposal of the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Corporation (JKPDC) which is the nodal institution for hosting the delegation. These officers will operate as the liaison officers of the Experts secretariat and the members – mostly engineers – from India and Pakistan.
According to reports, upon arrival at a military camp, the delegation visited the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) headquarters and proceeded to inspect the Ratle hydroelectric project in Drabshalla, officials added. They will also visit the 1000 MW Pakal Dul project on the Marusudar River, a tributary of the Chenab, along with other sites during their stay in Kishtwar.
The Indus Water Treaty, facilitated by the World Bank, allocates water from Kashmir's Indus River and its tributaries between India and Pakistan. India controls the eastern rivers (Sutlej, Beas, Ravi), while Pakistan controls the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab), aiming to ensure cooperation, resolve disputes, and manage shared water resources despite political tensions.
In 2016, Pakistan initially requested World Bank intervention regarding objections to the design of these hydroelectric projects, opting initially for a 'Neutral Expert' but later seeking adjudication through a Court of Arbitration.
India preferred resolution solely through 'Neutral Expert' proceedings, leading to World Bank appointments in October 2022. The Court of Arbitration ruled its competence in July 2023 to address Pakistan's arbitration requests, prompting Pakistan to file its first Memorial in March.
India declined participation in the Court of Arbitration but submitted a Memorial to the Neutral Expert in August 2023. Pakistan joined subsequent meetings in Vienna in September to organize site visits, overseen by 25 liaison officers appointed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration to facilitate coordination between the delegations and neutral experts.