Neha
Early Times Report
JAMMU, Nov 2: The September floods had not only devastated parts of Kashmir Valley, including parts of Srinagar city, and Kathua, Samba, Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur, Kishtwar districts and a few other areas of Jammu province. The floods had also adversely impacted some parts of POJK and Pakistan. Strangely, many in Pakistan, including Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeed, held India responsible for the floods in those parts of Pakistan sand POJK which were also engulfed by huge floodwaters.
There were many reports in the Pakistani irresponsible media that “India was responsible” for the devastation caused in the country and POJK by the floods. “So widespread was the belief that the upper riparian state (India) was responsible for the flooding downstream that it didn’t help when experts from Islamabad’s reputed think tanks debunked the idea” said a commentator.
The commentator also revealed that “Finally, some peaceniks from both sides (India and Pakistan) enlisted the help of Harvard professor John Briscoe, winner of the 2014 Stockholm Water Prize, to clarify that the floods were not caused by India opening the gates of the Baglihar dam on the Chenab”. All this should once again establish that Pakistan is an irresponsible state and it misses no opportunity to level wild charges against India, which has implemented the Indus Water Treaty in letter and spirit, notwithstanding the fact that the ruling elite in Kashmir criticises New Delhi day in and day out saying by concluding Indus water Treaty with Pakistan the Government of India has harmed the economic interests of the state. Interestingly, it is the same political class that also urges New Delhi to accommodate the Pakistani geo-communal interests in this part of the state. The ruling elite in the Valley has been demanding compensation from the Government of India for the “losses” this Treaty has been causing to the state. It is important to note that under the World Bank-brokered Indus Waters Treaty, which was signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, the latter holds the right to the water of the three — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — and India holds the right to control water of Ravi, Satluj and Beas rivers. |
