"I realise that some of my criticisms may be mistaken; but to refuse to criticize judgements for fear of being mistaken is to abandon criticism altogether... If any of my criticisms are found to be correct, the cause is served; and if any are found to be incorrect the very process of finding out my mistakes must lead to the discovery of the right reasons, or better reasons than I have been able to give, and the cause is served just as well."

-Mr. HM Seervai, Preface to the 1st ed., Constitutional Law of India.

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Kishanganga Award in India's Favour: News Report

A Pakistani news report suggests that the Arbitral Tribunal constituted under the Indus Water Treaty has passed the award in India’s favour, subject to the conditions that half the water from the Kishanganga dam should go to Pakistan and that India cannot maintain water at a very low level in the dam.

The news report can be accessed from here. It may be recollected that the Tribunal had previously passed a partial award in India's favour. The Permanent Court of Arbitration page on the dispute does not contain the details at the time of this post. More once we get the updates.

Added After Posting:

The PCA website has uploaded the Final Award which can be accessed from here. According to the Press Release:

"The Court decided that India shall release a minimum flow of 9 cumecs into the Kishenganga/Neelum River below the KHEP at all times. However, the Court also decided that either India or Pakistan may seek reconsideration of this decision through the Permanent Indus Commission and the mechanisms of the Indus Waters Treaty after a period of seven years from the first diversion of water from the Kishenganga/Neelum River."

Further, it appears that India had sought clarification on the Partial Award as to whether India may deplete the reservoir level of a run-of-river Plant below Dead Storage Level in any circumstances except in the case of an unforeseen emergency was site specific or was applicable in general under the Treaty. The Tribunal held that it was of general application under the Indus Water Treaty.

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