Union Government on 17th Dec 2016 formed a high level inter-ministerial task force to look into important aspects of the Indus Water Treaty/IWT with Pakistan.
This task force will be headed by PM Narendra Modi’s Principal Secretary Nripendra Mishra.
Other members of the team include NSA Ajist Doval, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and Secretaries in Ministries of Finance, Environment, Power and Water Resource.
Chief Secretaries of J&K and Punjab will be part of the task force.
J&K and Punjab are the states from where the six Indus river systems flow.
Committee was formed following the review meeting in Sept 2016 on the 56-year old distribution pact with Pakistan.
Meeting was held to utilise maximum water of Pak controlled rivers including Jhelum.
Pakistan in Sept 2016 approached the World Bank, saying the Kishenganga project was not in line with the criteria laid down under Indus Water Treaty.
After this, the World Bank decided to send an expert to discuss the Kishenganga and Ratle projects constructed in J&K.
World Bank is also a member of the Indus Waters Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960.
This has a role in the process of resolution of differences and disputes.
Indus Waters Treaty- Water distribution treaty between India and Pakistan brokered by WB(IBRD).
- Signed on: Sept 19, 1960.
- Signatories: PM Jawaharlal Nehru and President Ayub Khan
- Agreement holds control of three eastern rivers is with India, while three western rivers is Pakistan.
- Three eastern rivers are Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.
- Three western rivers are Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.
- As per the provisions in the treaty, India can use only 20% of the total water carried by the Indus river.
