Can't scrap Indus Water Treaty: Mufti

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed on Wednesday set at rest a long-standing debate in the country regarding the Indus Water Treaty signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan with the help of international facilitators.

"It is not possible to scrap the Indus Water Treaty in view of international obligations," the Mufti told the assembly while replying to a private member's resolution.

However, he said he was in agreement with "the spirit of the resolution", which called for scrapping the treaty.

The Mufti said that his government proposed to send an all-party delegation to apprise the Centre of the concern of the legislators.

He said, "The state will lay emphasis on seeking compensation from the Centre on account of the losses caused to it due to this treaty."

He said the government would request the Centre to "ask Islamabad to allow the state to construct the Tulbul Navigational Lock Project at Wullar for water storage".

"This barrage will in no way cause any damage to Pakistan, but would regulate the water storage system in the Mangla Dam besides helping Jammu and Kashmir to revive the navigational transport system and increase storage capacity to the benefit of the people of Kashmir," the chief minister said.

Six rivers -- Sutluj, Beas, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum and Sindh -- pass through India and Pakistan and come under the purview of the treaty. These have been categorised into eastern and western rivers with India having rights to the eastern rivers of Sutluj, Beas and Ravi while Pakistan to the rest.

As per the treaty, Jammu and Kashmir is entitled to store a limited amount of water. The state has to seek the concurrence of the Pakistan government for launching any hydel power project on Chenab, Jhelum and Sindh.