Asghar Ali Mubarak
ISLAMABAD: The World Bank’s appointed “Court of Arbitration and Neutral Experts” will formally take up Pakistan’s plea against India’s construction of Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric power plants.
On October 18, the WB appointed the court of arbitration at the request of Pakistan after the neighbouring countries failed to sort out the issue regarding the technical design of the two hydropower plants under the Indus Waters Treaty.
Pakistan and Indian officials and experts will also attend the Court of Arbitration and Neutral Experts’ hearing in Washington on November 21.
The delegation of legal and water experts from Pakistan left for Washington on Saturday. The Pakistani delegation, headed by the Ministry of Water Resources secretary in the hearing. Pakistan approached the World Bank in 2016 and the latter announced to set up of an arbitral tribunal in October. India proposed to resolve the issue jointly, but Pakistan rejected the proposal based on India’s track record.
Once the World Bank handovers the case about the dispute to the Court of Experts and Neutral Experts, the bank will no longer be a part of the matter.
World Bank on October 18 appointed Sean Murphy as chairman of the Court of Arbitration and Michel Lino as the Neutral Expert. Pakistan has raised three objections to the design of the Kishanganga project built on the Jhelum River’s tributary.
Pakistan has raised four objections to the design of the Ratle hydropower project being constructed on the Chenab River.
