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| Sunday, 30 January 2005 |
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World Bank receives papers over Pakistan-India dam row WASHINGTON, Saturday (AFP) The World Bank said Friday it has received a set of documents from Pakistan backing its call for a "neutral expert" to resolve a row with India over a hydroelectric dam project in disputed Kashmir state. The Baglihar Dam in India's section of the divided Himalayan territory is being built in two 450-megawatt phases. The first phase was due for completion in 2004 but has been delayed by the dispute. The Washington-based bank said it would review the documents "expeditiously" to ensure that whatever decision it made was in strict compliance with the Indus Water Treaty brokered by the bank. After talks with India over the dam collapsed earlier this month, Pakistan asked the World Bank to name a neutral expert to settle the dispute as per the agreement. Pakistan's move marked the first time it has sought outside help to settle differences under the treaty between the nuclear rivals. Islamabad says it fears the dam on the Chenab river flowing from Indian Kashmir to Pakistan could deprive its wheat-bowl state of Punjab of vital irrigation water and charges it violates the 44-year-old water agreement. Pakistan is concerned that in the event of another war, India could use the dam to cause flooding or droughts in Punjab, analysts say. The World Bank said Friday that the documents sent by Pakistan "need to indicate that all the necessary prior actions have been taken by the parties, so that the Bank may satisfy itself that it is in strict compliance with the Treaty when it takes the appropriate next step." |
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