Joint inspection of Indus river agreed

LAHORE: A Pakistani delegation will visit Indian Kashmir in August to inspect the Indus river. New Delhi showed willingness for the visit at the two-day talks between Indus water commissioners on Friday.

“Both sides agreed over the inspection of the rivers on both sides of borders. The inspection will be undertaken by joint teams of the two countries,” Pakistan’s Indus water commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah told journalists after Friday’s meeting.

In the wake of Pakistan’s reservations on constructions carried out by India on the Ravi river, the two countries would jointly inspect the river on both sides of the border.

India has also agreed to consider a Pakistani proposal to install the telemetry system on their rivers, in order to record instant report on water flow, Shah said.

He told journalists that matters related to prevention of pollution in the rivers were also discussed in the meeting. There was a complaint that water flowing from India was contaminated, he added. The inspection of Adiala and Kasur drains would be carried out, he indicated.

Pakistan wanted to resolve all the problems related to water with India under Indus basin treaty, he said.

Indian water commissioner told reporters that India would allow Pakistan to inspect river Sindh. Water problems prevailing between Pakistan and India were not such as could not be resolved through dialogue, he added. However no time-frame could be given for sorting out some problems.

India wanted all matters pertaining to water be settled through bilateral talks, so no need for arbitration could arise, he underlined. The process of inspection of river would help address concerns of both the countries, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 24^th, 2010.