Kashmiris rise up against Pakistan on Baglihar project and involving World Bank
Sudhir Chadda
Feb. 7, 2005

Kashmir leaders including the separatists and people of Kashmir rose up and challenged Pakistan on Baglihar project and involving World Bank. Reacting strongly against Pakistan for approaching World Bank on the controversial Baglihar project, moderate separatist leaders Syed Nazir Gilani and Dr Shabir Choudhry have questioned Islamabad's "legal or moral right" over the natural resources of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Water of Chenab and other rivers is a natural resource of Jammu and Kashmir and it must be used for the betterment of the people of the state. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have first priority over the use of this water," London-based leaders said in a statement to UNI.

Gilani, Chairman of the International Kashmir Alliance and Dr Choudhry of the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) said, “One wonders what legal right both India and Pakistan have over the use of these natural resources. Despite abundant water resources, the people of Jammu and Kashmir do not have clean drinking water and electricity."

Pakistan's Ambassador to the United States Jehangir Karamat met senior officials of the World Bank last week and sought the financial institution's intervention in resolving this issue as Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan failed to end the stalemate.

Gilani said the World Bank couldn’t adjudicate the Indus Water Treaty without fully assessing the issue. The World Bank has failed in taking full cognizance of the fact that the people of the state have rights over the water resources. He even justified Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayed's claim that the Water Treaty had greatly harmed the interests of the people of the state.

Gilani said Pakistan should become facilitator in the economic progress of the state by not objecting to various hydel power and other projects. The state faces power crisis and it has to depend on other states to meet its power needs. Projects like Tulbul-Wular barrage on Jhelum and Baglihar on Chenab are essential for improving the economic conditions of the state.

"These projects would help us to become economically self sufficient," he said. Dr Choudhry, however, was not in favour of abrogation of the Indus Water Treaty, stating, "scrapping will create many problems", which will have international dimensions.

India and Pakistan cannot open new areas of confrontation by abrogating the treaty. It was under the terms of this treaty that the Mangla Dam was built in Mirpur, which uprooted thousands of people. Meanwhile, work on the controversial dam has been stepped up to ensure timely completion of the Rs 7,000 crore project. The first phase of the hydroelectric project is expected to generate 900 MW of power.

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