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Context: A 10-member Indian delegation will visit Pakistan for the annual meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission from March 1-3.

Agenda of meet: Pakistan's objections on Indian hydroelectric projects namely Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Lower Kalnai (48 MW) and Kiru (624 MW) in Chenab basin in Jammu and Kashmir and few small hydroelectric projects in Ladakh are likely to be on the agenda for discussion.

Indus Water Treaty:

• It is a water-distribution treaty between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank, to use the water available in the Indus River and its tributaries.
• It gives control over the waters of the three "eastern rivers" — the Beas, Ravi and Sutlej with a mean annual flow of 33 million acre-feet (MAF) — to India, while control over the waters of the three "western rivers" — the Indus, Chenab and Jhelum with a mean annual flow of 80 MAF — to Pakistan.
• India was allocated about 16% of the total water carried by the Indus system while Pakistan was allocated the remainder.
• The treaty allows India to use the western river waters for limited irrigation use and unlimited non-consumptive use for such applications as power generation, navigation, floating of property, fish culture, etc.
• It lays down detailed regulations for India in building projects over the western rivers.
• Under the provisions of Article VIII(5) of the Indus Waters Treaty, the Permanent Indus Commission is required to meet regularly at least once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan.
• According to the treaty, India has been given the right to generate hydroelectricity through run-of-the-river projects on the western rivers subject to specific criteria for design and operation.
• It also gives the right to Pakistan to raise objections to designs of Indian hydroelectric projects on the western rivers.

Permanent Indus Commission:

• It is a bilateral commission consisting of officials from India and Pakistan, created to implement and manage the goals and objectives and outlines of the Indus Waters Treaty.

Renegotiation of treaty:

• The parliamentary standing committee urged the government of India to initiate the process for renegotiating the treaty with Pakistan.
• Reasons: Present-day pressing issues such as climate change, global warming and environmental impact assessment etc. were not taken into account by the treaty. There is very little in the treaty for the best possible use of the water resources of the river system
• Renegotiation of IWT is possible only when both the parties, India and Pakistan, agree to do so. Afghanistan and China being the co-riparians of Indus basin, also have a stake in the basin.

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indian-delegation-to-visit-pakistan-for-annual-permanent-indus-commission-meeting-from-march-1-3-official/article65068084.ece

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