Baglihar Dam
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2007) |
| Baglihar Dam | |
|---|---|
MW Francis-type Stage II: 3 x 150 MW Francis-type | |
| Installed capacity | Stage I: 450 MW Stage II: 450 MW Total: 900 MW |
Baglihar Dam (Hindi: Baglihār Bāndh), also known as Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project, is a
Indus Waters dispute
After construction began in 1999,
During 1999-2004 India and Pakistan held several rounds of talks on the design of the project, but could not reach an agreement. After the failure of talks on 18 January 2005, Pakistan raised six objections to the World Bank, a broker and signatory of Indus Water Treaty. In April 2005 the World Bank determined the Pakistani claim as a ‘Difference’, a classification that is in-between the less serious ‘Question’ and the more serious ‘Dispute’. In May 2005, it appointed Professor Raymond Lafitte, a Swiss civil engineer as a neutral expert to adjudicate the difference.
Lafitte declared his final verdict on 12 February 2007,[6][7] in which he upheld some minor objections of Pakistan, requiring that pondage capacity be reduced by 13.5%, the height of dam be reduced by 1.5 meters, and power intake tunnels be raised by 3 meters, thereby limiting some flow control capabilities of the earlier design. However, he rejected Pakistani objections on height and gated control of the spillway, declaring that these featurees conformed to the engineering norms of the day. Pakistan government expressed its disappointment at the outcome.
The verdict acknowledged India's right to construct 'gated spillways' under Indus Water Treaty. The report allowed pondage of 32.56 million cubic meters against India's demand for 37.5 million cubic metres. The report also recommended reducing the height of freeboard from 1.5 m to nil and surcharge storage unchanged at 3 m. The verdict permitted drawdown flushing to prevent silt accumulation in the reservoir which has enhanced the life of the reservoir to above 80 years. Without drawdown flushing, the reservoir would have been completely silted in 13 years period by 2017.[8]
On 1 June 2010, India and Pakistan had a meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission, where they resolved the issue relating to the initial filling of Baglihar dam. According to PTI, "the two sides discussed the issue at length without any prejudice to each other's stand...Indian and Pakistani teams resolved the issue relating to the initial filling of Baglihar dam after discussions." Pakistan also agreed not to raise the issue further.[9][10]
See also
- Ratle Hydroelectric Plant – under construction upstream
- Kishanganga Hydroelectric Plant
- Salal Hydroelectric Power Station
- Rivers of Jammu and Kashmir
References
- ISBN 0-415-36240-7.
- ^ a b "Pakistan-India Relations" (PDF). Pakistani Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT). Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ "Ramban mishap: Baglihar dam gates to be closed to trace missing passengers". The Tribune (Chandigarh). 2 September 2020. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023.
- ^ Baglihar Briefing, Kashmir Life, 11 November 2015.
- ^ Venkatasubramanian, Varsha (2021). "The Indus Water's Treaty: India and Pakistan's Water Divorce". magazine.thediplomat.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ "Baglihar Hydroelectric Plant: Expert Determination" (PDF). Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ^ "Baglihar Hydroelectric Plant: drawings annexure to Expert Determination" (PDF). Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ^ "Baglihar Hydroelectric Plant Case Documents Expert Determination" (PDF). Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ^ India, Pakistan resolve Baglihar dam issue, The Hindu, 1 June 2010.
- ^ Gargi Parsai, India, Pak resolve matters relating to filling of Baglihar dam, Hindustan Times, 1 June 2010.
Bibliography
- Bakshi, Gitanjali; Trivedi, Sahiba (2011), The Indus Equation (PDF), Strategic Foresight Group, retrieved 28 October 2014
- Gazdar, Haris (26 February 2005), "Baglihar and Politics of Water: A Historical Perspective from Pakistan", Economic and Political Weekly, 40 (9): 813–817, JSTOR 4416263
- Salman, Salman M. A. (2008). "The Baglihar difference and its resolution process - a triumph for the Indus Waters Treaty?". Water Policy. 10 (2): 105–117. .}
- Sinha, Rajesh (18 February 2006), "Two Neighbours and a Treaty: Baglihar Project in Hot Waters", Economic and Political Weekly, 41 (7): 606–608, JSTOR 4417834
- Wirsing, Robert G.; Jasparro, Christopher (May 2006), Spotlight on Indus River Diplomacy: India, Pakistan, and the Baglihar Dam Dispute (PDF), Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, archived (PDF) from the original on 23 March 2020
External links
- "The Indus Waters Treaty 1960 (with annexes)" (PDF). United Nations. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- Baglihar Dam cleared by neutral expert, Government of India press release, 12 February 2007.
- PM’s opening remarks at the Press Conference, Government of India, 10 October 2008.