Union Government forms high-level task force on Indus Water Treaty

The Union government on 17 December 2016 formed a high-level inter-ministerial task force to look into all the strategic aspects of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan.

This task force will be headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Principal Secretary Nripendra Mishra. The other members of the team include NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Secretaries in Ministries of Finance, Environment, Power and Water Resource.

Besides, Chief Secretaries of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab will be invitees in the task force. Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab are the states from where the six Indus system rivers flow.

Background
• The committee was formed following the review meeting in September 2016 on the 56-year-old water distribution pact with Pakistan. The meeting was held after India witnessed a series of cross-border terror strikes including Uri attack.
• It was also decided in that meeting that India will utilise the maximum water of Pakistan-controlled rivers including Jhelum.
• Pakistan in September 2016 approached World Bank citing that the Kishenganga project was not in line with the criteria laid down under Indus Water Treaty.
• Following this, World Bank decided to send an expert to discuss with India and Pakistan about their versions on designs of Kishenganga and Ratle projects being constructed by India in Jammu and Kashmir.
• World Bank is also a member of the Indus Waters Treaty that was signed between India and Pakistan in 1960. It has a specified role in the process of resolution of differences and disputes.