$12b loss to Pakistan due to water theft by India
LAHORE: India is stealing 15-20% of water from western rivers causing $ 12 billion loss to the agriculture of Pakistan.
This was revealed in a report of Engineers Study Forum, a water experts panel, on rivers of India and Pakistan, said a spokesman of the forum.
Total water availability of the western rivers is 125.6 MAF. Out of which India steals a big chunk of water having economic cost in term of loss to agriculture in Pakistan as estimated at 12 billion dollars per year, he said.
This is a blatant violation of the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 and UN conventions. India is blocking water from the Chenab and Jhelum rivers by constructing dams like Baghlihar, Kishen Ganga, Wuller Barrage, Pakal Dul and taking other diversion measures.
The forum has urged Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani to lodge a claim with the United Nations, World Bank and International Court of Justice of billions of dollars in terms of loss caused to Paksitan agriculture per year.
Legal cases should also be instituted and vigorously pursued by a team of legal, diplomatic, and technical experts, said the forum.
Indus Water Treaty of 1960 provides that Pakistan shall receive all waters of the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) except for some specified uses from these rivers by India, which obviously does not cover diversions or pilferage, the spokesman said.
Engineers Study Forum has criticised the alleged lack of success on the part of Pakistan experts, including Commissioner Indus Waters, against India’s economic onslaught. Pakistan Times Special Correspondent
Filed under: Current Affairs, India CA, Pak CA 
