Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has directed the Ministry of Water and Power (MOWP) to approach the Court of Arbitration (CoA) against India for constructing a 45 megawatts hydropower plant at Nimoo Bazgo, and receiving carbon credits from the United Nations.
An official privy to the development said Advisor to the PM on Agriculture and Water Kamal Majidullah was finalising the names of the legal team to file the case in the CoA. The official, who requested anonymity, said Majidullah would be handle the matter instead of the ministry, as he was already dealing with the Kishanganga hydropower project in the Indian-held Kashmir (IHK). The official said the Pakistan Indus Water Commission would assist Majidullah. India had constructed the Nimoo Bazgo hydropower project in the Leh district of the IHK. It even managed to get carbon credits from the UN despite constructing the project in the disputed territory. The official said that an enquiry report against the former Indus Water commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah recommended stopping his pension, as he was already retired from the government service. The enquiry report holds Shah responsible for not timely informing the Pakistani government on the construction of the Nimoo Bazgo hydropower project on the Indus River. According to the official source, the delay in informing the government allowed India to complete the project and to get carbon credits from the UN.
A spokesman of the MOWP denied that the ministry had sought restrictions on Shah’s movement or asked to place his name on the Exit Control List. He said the enquiry report was forwarded to the Establishment Division to seek some clarifications. The government had ordered an enquiry following media reports criticising the authorities for their failure in stopping India from constructing a water storage project on the disputed territory and getting carbon credits from the UN.
