Indus Water Treaty: Pakistan not concerned if India diverts water of 3 Eastern rivers
After Union Minister Nitin Gadkari snubbed Pakistan by stating that India has decided to fully utilise its share of water from the 3 rivers, Pakistan has said that it’s not concerned about India’s decision over Beas, Ravi and Sutlej.
Secretary of Pakistan's Ministry of Water Resources Khawaja Shumail,while speaking to newspaper Dawn said, “We have neither concern nor objection if India diverts water of eastern rivers and supplies it to its people or uses it for other purposes, as the IWT (Indus Waters Treaty) allows it do so.”
#WATCH Union Min Nitin Gadkari says,"Nirnay kewal mere dept ka nahi hai, sarkar aur PM ke level pe nirnay hoga par maine apne department se kaha hai ki Pakistan ka jo inke adhikar ka bhi paani ja raha tha vo kahan kahan rok sakte hain uska technical design bana ke taiyaari karo" pic.twitter.com/42KgwFrVzk
— ANI (@ANI) February 22, 2019
In context of Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan’s Minister has clearly stated that they are not concerned about it and India can change the water course of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej.
Khwaja further added that “But we will definitely express our concerns and raise objections strongly if they use or divert waters of western rivers (Chenab, Indus, Jhelum) on which our right to use prevails.”
Earlier, it was Union Minister Nitin Gadkari who had earlier tweeted that “Our Govt. has decided to stop our share of water which used to flow to Pakistan. We will divert water from Eastern rivers and supply it to our people in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.”
Clarifying his statement, Neeta Prasad, a senior official from Water Resource ministry said that “He (Nitin Gadkari) is talking about diverting India's share of Indus water, which was going to Pakistan - and he has always been saying this as you all know.”
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First published: 22 February 2019, 14:55 IST