India-Pakistan Indus Commissioners meeting

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In news:  Indus Commissioners of India and Pakistan will meet on 23-24 March in New Delhi

Key updates 

• It will be the 1st meeting of Indus Commissioners after a gap of two and a half years. 
• The previous meeting of the India-Pakistan Permanent Indus Commission was held in Lahore, Pakistan from August 29-30, 2018.
• As per the  provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, the Commission shall meet regularly at least once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan
• During the meeting, Pakistan’s objections on design of Indian hydropower projects on Chenab River will be discussed

 Indus water treaty 1960

• It was signed between India and Pakistan and brokered by the World Bank
• The treaty fixed and delimited the rights and obligations of both countries concerning the use of the waters of the Indus River system.
• According to the treaty, Beas, Ravi and Sutlej(eastern rivers) are to be governed by India, while, Indus, Chenab and Jhelum(western rivers) are to be taken care by Pakistan.
• As per the treaty, all the waters of the Eastern Rivers (Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi) amounting to around 33 million acre feet (MAF) annually is allocated to India for unrestricted use and the waters of Western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab) amounting to around 135 MAF annually largely to Pakistan.
• The treaty has given India the right to generate hydroelectricity through a run of the river projects on the western rivers subject to specific criteria for design and operation. 
• It also gives the right to Pakistan to raise concerns on the design of Indian hydroelectric projects on western rivers. 
• The Treaty also provides an arbitration mechanism to solve disputes amicably. A Permanent Indus Commission was set up as a bilateral commission to implement and manage the Treaty. The Commission solves disputes arising over water sharing.
• It also makes it mandatory for both countries to appoint water commissioners
• Under the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty, both the commissioners are required to meet at least once a year alternately in India and Pakistan.

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