Indus Waters Treaty was signed between India, Pakistan and also the World Bank in 1960.
New Delhi:
India has taken strong exception to what it calls the World Bank's "inexplicable" decision to set up a Court of Arbitration and also appoint a neutral expert to examine Pakistan's complaint on two hydroelectric projects as part of a larger row over the Indus Waters Treaty.
The World Bank has decided to appoint a Neutral Expert, as the Indian government had requested, and has also set up a Court of Arbitration, as Pakistan wanted.
Stating that both steps together are "legally untenable", foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swaroop said on Thursday: "Inexplicably, the World Bank has decided to continue to proceed with these two parallel mechanisms simultaneously."
The government, he added, would examine further options and take steps.
The Neutral Expert has been asked to go into Pakistan's complaint against India on the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan says the design of the projects are not in line with the Indus Water Treaty of 1960.
Kishengaga is a tributary of the river Jhelum and the project is coming up in Bandipora.
Pakistan argues that the project cannot be built in a way that will divert the river tributary. Its case was rejected by a Court of Arbitration in 2013.
The project is almost complete and was to be commissioned this month.
Pakistan also has objections on the Ratle project on the river Chenab in Doda district; it wants the water storage capacity to be reduced drastically, saying that the project will reduce the river flow into Pakistan.
Delhi asked for a Neutral Expert to look into the technical aspects of Pakistan's objections, while Islamabad asked for a Court of Arbitration.
The treaty states that while a Neutral Expert is examining the row, there can be no other mechanism for settlement of disputes.
Under the treaty between India and Pakistan, the World Bank, which brokered the pact, has a specified role in the resolution of disputes.
It has the power to establish a Court of Arbitration with arbitrators appointed by India and Pakistan and three "umpires" nominated by global dignitaries.
The World Bank has decided to appoint a Neutral Expert, as the Indian government had requested, and has also set up a Court of Arbitration, as Pakistan wanted.
Stating that both steps together are "legally untenable", foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swaroop said on Thursday: "Inexplicably, the World Bank has decided to continue to proceed with these two parallel mechanisms simultaneously."
The government, he added, would examine further options and take steps.
The Neutral Expert has been asked to go into Pakistan's complaint against India on the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistan says the design of the projects are not in line with the Indus Water Treaty of 1960.
Kishengaga is a tributary of the river Jhelum and the project is coming up in Bandipora.
Pakistan argues that the project cannot be built in a way that will divert the river tributary. Its case was rejected by a Court of Arbitration in 2013.
The project is almost complete and was to be commissioned this month.
Pakistan also has objections on the Ratle project on the river Chenab in Doda district; it wants the water storage capacity to be reduced drastically, saying that the project will reduce the river flow into Pakistan.
Delhi asked for a Neutral Expert to look into the technical aspects of Pakistan's objections, while Islamabad asked for a Court of Arbitration.
The treaty states that while a Neutral Expert is examining the row, there can be no other mechanism for settlement of disputes.
Under the treaty between India and Pakistan, the World Bank, which brokered the pact, has a specified role in the resolution of disputes.
It has the power to establish a Court of Arbitration with arbitrators appointed by India and Pakistan and three "umpires" nominated by global dignitaries.
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