- A five-member Pakistan delegation and neutral World Bank experts toured the 850-MW Ratle hydroelectric power project on the Chenab River in the Chenab Valley.
- Since 2006, Pakistan has raised technical objections to power projects in Jammu & Kashmir, including the Ratle project, through various forums such as the Permanent Indus Commission, and has sought arbitration from international bodies, which India has rejected.
- The Pakistani delegation might also inspect the 1,000-megawatt Pakal Dul hydroelectric project being built on the Marusudar River, which emerges from the Marwah Valley before joining the Chenab River.
- Pakistan has also objected to the Kishanganga project in Kashmir, a run-of-the-river hydroelectric scheme in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Its dam diverts water from the Kishanganga River to a power plant in the Jhelum River basin.
- It remains unclear if the delegation will access the Kishanganga power project in Bandipora district.
The Indus Water Treaty (IWT)
- It was signed in 1960, between India and Pakistan, with the World Bank’s mediation, allocates the waters of the Indus River system.
- The treaty grants Pakistan control over the three western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) and India control over the three eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej).
- It establishes the Permanent Indus Commission for cooperation and provides a framework for dispute resolution through bilateral talks or arbitration.
Dig Deeper: Read about the features of Run-of-River (ROR) hydroelectric power plants different from conventional hydroelectric plants.
