02-12-2007, 06:44 PM
[center]<b><span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>WB clears Baglihar, asks India to reduce dam height</span></b>[/center]
<b>NEW DELHI : A World Bank-appointed neutral expert on Monday cleared the Baglihar Power Project over river Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir but asked India to reduce the height of the dam by one-and-a-half metres, one of the objections raised by Pakistan.
Richard Lafitte, in his final report handed over to Indian and Pakistani diplomats in Berne, Switzerland, overruled other technical objections of Pakistan on the dam. The dam's height was originally proposed to be 144.5 metres.</b>
Radhika Lokesh, charge de affairs of the Indian Embassy in Switzerland received the report on behalf of the government and forwarded it to New Delhi. Further details are awaited.
Both countries were awaiting the decision keenly as it has been nagging their ties for over two decades.
In 2005, Pakistan had sought intervention of the World Bank, which is the third party to the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, alleging that construction of the project violated the accord. India, however, has rejected the charge.
According to the provisions of the treaty, the neutral expert's decision on all matters will be final and binding.
In electricity-deficit Jammu and Kashmir the 450-MW power project will come as a big relief. The complete project is designed to produce 900 MW of power.
Pakistan has opposed the construction of the project, particularly the design and height of the dam.
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<b>Pakistani Version :</b>
[center]<b>Pakistani viewpoint accepted on Baglihar Dam[/center]</b>
ISLAMABAD: The World Bank passed Monday its verdict on Baglihar Dam, accepting Pakistani viewpoint on the dam.
The bank had appointed an impartial arbitrator for the resolution of this issue. The arbitrator found Pakistani viewpoint legitimate that Baglihar Dam being made by India is in violation of Indus Basin Treaty.
<b>Pakistan raised four points of objection, of which three were acceded to by the world body arbitration.</b>
Pakistan had in 2005 sought intervention of the World Bank, which is the third party to the 1960 Indus Water Treaty as construction of the project violated the accord.
According to the provisions of the Treaty, the neutral expert's decision on all matters will be final and binding. Prior to the final meeting with representatives of the two countries on November 7, Lafitte had circulated to India and Pakistan a draft containing his conclusions on the arbitration, added the report.
The arbitrator was slated to give his "final determination" by the end of last year but had put it off till February this year. Pakistan has been opposing construction of the project, particularly the design and height of the dam.
The two sides tried to settle the issue between themselves but several rounds of discussions failed to yield any result.
The Indus Waters Treaty was concluded on September 19, 1960 by India and Pakistan under the aegis of the World Bank. The Treaty divided six common rivers between the two countries, allocating right over three to each.
The World Bank is a signatory to the Treaty for certain specified purposes.
This is the first time since the Treaty was concluded 47 years ago that the provisions regarding the settlement of differences and disputes have been invoked.
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