ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Water Resources Kamal Majidullah on Friday dispelled the impression created by a section of media that the verdict of International Arbitration Court was in favour of India or against Pakistan.
Talking to newsmen here at the Foreign Office, Kamal Majidullah said that the verdict on Kishanganga dispute was in favour of Pakistan as it would help check violations of the Indus Basin Waters Treaty by India and ensure uninterrupted flow of water to Pakistan.
Under the verdit, India will have to change the designs of projects planned on the rivers in Occupied Kashmir, he added.
He said Pakistan had put two questions before the International Court of Arbitration for determination.
The court has given its conclusive determination on one question regarding maintaining dead level of the Kishanganga dam while it will give its final award on the second issue regarding minimum possible flow of water to Pakistan in December 2013, he added.
He said that the decision on two points raised by India regarding environment and Kashmir territorial issue were also in favour of Pakistan.
The court decided that the Indus Waters Treaty does not permit reduction below the dead storage level of the water level in the reservoirs of run-of-river plants on the western rivers.
Thus India cannot employ drawdown flushing that will entail depletion of reservoir below the dead storage level not only at Kishanganga but for all future run-of-river hydroelectric plants, he added.
He said that such clear interpretation prohibiting India from lowering the reservoir water levels below the dead storage level was a major relief for Pakistan as this protected its right to receive uninterrupted water supplies on the western rivers.
The Special Assistant said the decision was particularly significant in the protection of Pakistan's rights under the Indus Waters Treaty as India had planned 150 run-of-river power plants of 47 to 50 MWs on the western rivers.
He said that the decision had guaranteed water to Pakistan for irrigation and other purposes.
India cannot begin construction until disputes differences and issues are resolved, he added.
He said that it was a brave decision of the government to go to the Court of Arbitration as the previous government did not take any such steps.
Spokesperson to Foreign Office Aziz Ahmed Chaudhry was also present on the occasion.
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