Pak to move WB for water compensation from India

Islamabad, Nov 20 : Indus Water Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah has said that Pakistan will move the World Bank to seek compensation from India for reduced water flow in the Chenab River and design defects in Baglihar Dam. The World Bank had appointed an intermediary between India and Pakistan to resolve the Baglihar Dam row.

Shah said Pakistan had demanded water, not monetary compensation, from India for the losses incurred due to decreased water flow in the Chenab.

Both countries had exchanged data about the water flow in the Chenab River during his recent visit to India, but India had objected to the data compiled by Pakistan and asked for a visit to Marala Headworks for inspecting the water flow, the Daily Times quoted him as saying.

Pakistan had authorised India to visit Marala, Shah said and added that a demand for compensation for the water losses and an assurance of honouring the Indus Water Treaty in the future had also been put up.

He reiterated that India had violated the treaty while filling Baglihar Dam, and that it filled the dam in 10 days instead of completing the process in a period of 60 to 70 days.

Water shortage due to the initial filling of the dam has badly affected the agriculture sector in Pakistan, as farmers could not receive the water to irrigate their fields in time, he said.

ANI