Pakistan and India in Dispute Over Kishenganga Project
Pakistan and India are set to face each other today at The Hague over disputes regarding the designs of the Kishenganga and Rattle Hydropower projects. The two-day proceedings, taking place from September 10-11, will be held at the Neutral Expert Forum, where the countries will discuss the impact of these projects, particularly the Kishanganga Hydroelectricity Project, on downstream water availability in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s delegation is led by Syed Ali Murtaza, Federal Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, and includes top officials from the Attorney General’s Office, Law Division, and NESPAK, along with an international team of lawyers. India, on the other hand, continues to push for the Neutral Expert Forum to decide the case, while Pakistan favors the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA).
In July 2023, the PCA dismissed six of India’s objections, confirming its jurisdiction to hear the case. However, India has boycotted the PCA, preferring the Neutral Expert’s involvement.
Pakistan has raised specific concerns regarding the designs of the projects. For the 330 MW Kishenganga project, Pakistan objected to its pondage capacity, requesting it to be reduced from 7.5 million cubic meters to one million cubic meters. Additionally, Islamabad seeks modifications to the project’s intake and spillways. For the 850 MW Ratle Hydropower project, Pakistan raised four objections, including the reduction of freeboard height and pondage volume, and alterations to the intake and spillway designs.
Pakistan fears that the current designs of these projects, especially the Ratle Hydropower project, could significantly reduce water flow in the Chenab River, severely impacting irrigation in central Punjab.
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