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| Pakistan happy over reports from Swiss arbitrator | | World Bank decision on Baglihar dam on Feb. 12 | |
B L KAK
NEW DELHI, DEC 4
Come February 12, the World Bank arbitrator, Raymond Latiffe, will announce his decision on the dispute between India and Pakistan over the Baglihar hydro-electric project under construction in the Jammu region of J&K State.
Islamabad has just let it be known that the Swiss arbitrator's detailed decison would be made public on February 12. Under the provisions of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, India and Pakistan cannot brush aside any recommendation from ther World Bank in relation to the projects or dams built by the two sides by utilising the waters specified in the treaty.
According to an official report received in New Delhi on Monday from Islamabad, Pakistan has announced that whatsoever the decision would be the two countries would be "bound to obey it". Pakistan government was reported to be "happy" over information from Switzerland, making it clear that the Swiss arbitrator had directed three basic alterations in the design of the Baglihar dam.
Happily for India and people of Jammu and Kashmir, the World Bank arbitrator has decided against any move seeking the suspension of construction of the Baglihar dam. If the report circulated in Pakistan on 'what next' were any guide, the alterations Raymond Latiffe would announce on February 12 include reducing the Baglihar dam height by 1.5 metres, construction of 1.2-metre-high edmbankment around the dam and raisng the foundation of turbine installation by 3 metres.
The report, in fact, says that the World Bank arbitrator has already informed about his decision to the officials of Pakistan and India in a meeting held in Washington. However, Indian officials told that the Baglihar dam would not remain economically useful, following the changes suggested in its design. The report said that New Delhi in next few days would make a decision as to whether to construct the dam in accordance with the new design or give it up for good.
Talking to a private TV channel, Pakistan's Secretary for Water and Power, Ishfaq Mehmood, said that the decision "has not been delayed". He let it be known that Pakistan has pleaded its case " in a better way". He divulged that Raymond Latiffe would provide a copy of his detailed decision on February 12 in Geneva to both parties to the issue, namely, Pakistan and India. |
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