Fast-tracking of hydro projects is a bold decision
Even as India agreed to attend the Indus Water Commission (IWC) meet in lahore, it also decided to fast-track hydro-projects in Kashmir despite Pakistan's opposition. This is good, because for years, New Delhi had been needlessly sensitive to Islamabad's concerns over being short-changed in water sharing. Indeed, such had been the reluctance on India's part that it had not been even optimally using the share that is due to it. And despite the consideration New Delhi has shown, Islamabad has relentlessly accused India of trying to choke the flow of water to Pakistan. It has even taken the matter to the World Bank, which had mediated the 1960 Indus Water Treaty (IWT), leading to the establishment of the IWC as a mechanism to resolve differences in the process of the pact's implementation over the years. The Narendra Modi Government has lost no time in giving approval to the fast-tracking of hydro-projects worth $15 billion in Jammu & Kashmir. Now that the approval has come, these projects, which have dragged on for years and decades, should be quickly completed for the benefits to begin flowing to India, and to the people of Jammu & Kashmir in particular. For years, J&K-based political leaders have been pushing for the revival of the hydro-power projects for both electricity and water needs, but the Centre's lukewarm response put paid to their hopes. Now, Prime Minister Modi has made it clear that there will no foot-dragging. last year, India had pulled out of talks on water-sharing when Modi said that water and blood could flow together. He was referring to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism against India.
Not much has changed since that remark. But instead of merely issuing threats, the Government has taken the pragmatic step of shoring up its advantage. Pakistan is certain to contest the Indian thrust, but it can keep complaining. Recently, India protested stiffly when the World Bank sought to appoint a ‘neutral' party to resolve the dispute arising out of the Kishenganga and Ratle projects in J&K. After New Delhi's firm response that the matter had to be settled bilaterally according to the 1960 treaty, the World Bank left the matter there. There is no reason for India to go overboard in pandering to Pakistan, given that the latter continues to patronise terror elements that target India, and also plays a major role in fomenting unrest in Kashmir and elsewhere. New Delhi has done well to not heed extremist voices which called for India to unilaterally abrogate the treaty. Walking away from an internationally-mediated pact without valid reasons would have been bad for the country's image abroad. Besides, when there are ways to use the treaty to have one's way and ensure that the other does not get away with a larger share than is mandated for it, there is no reason to disrupt the arrangement. This does not, of course, foreclose such an option for India if the situation so demands in the near future.