Mohsin Babbar

ISLAMABAD: A high-level World Bank delegation has made it clear to the government that funding will not be made available for the proposed Diamer-Basha Dam till concerns over the possible environmental and social impacts of the project are addressed fully.

The World Bank team, led by Chief Water Specialist for South Asia David Grey, was on a week-long visit to Pakistan from March 11-18 at the government's request. Its terms of reference included preliminary review of the proposed Diamer-Basha Dam as well as of a multi-purpose hydropower generation project that would help restore storage capacity of existing water reservoirs.

World Bank sources told The Post that the delegation discussed in detail the state of water releases to stop sea intrusion. "They inquired specifically about the water being released downstream Kotri into the sea to balance the Indus Delta's ecology," they said.

"Referring to a recent study conducted by the Ministry of Water and Power under the supervision of a committee headed by ANG Abbasi, the World Bank team wanted to know whether the government had implemented its recommendation to release 8.6 million acre feet (maf) of water to stop sea intrusion," the sources informed.

The visiting delegation also inquired how much water would be released to the sea after the construction of Diamer-Basha Dam. The government officials, sources added, assured the World Bank team that they were fully aware of the possible environment and social impacts of the proposed mega water project, and detailed studies would be conduced to address them.

According to a World Bank press release, the visiting experts reviewed the hydrological, financial, environmental and social aspects of the Indus basin infrastructure. "They discussed the challenge of strengthening engagement with civil society and, in dialogue with both federal and provincial government officials, focussed on the need for system-wide reforms of the Indus basin to ensure water and power security for future," it added. "We believe that water management reform in an extremely urgent challenge for Pakistan and that new infrastructure is necessary for sound management of the Indus basin" Grey said.

Talks on Wuller barrage today

ISLAMABAD: Two-day talks between Pakistan and India over the issue of Wuller Barrage will be starting today (Tuesday) in New Delhi. Pakistan delegation headed by Indus Water Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah has reached New Delhi. Foreign Office sources said the talks on Wuller Barrage are part of the process of composite talks between the two countries. At the previous round of talks India presented the reviewed design for the barrage to Pakistan. Islamabad rejected the design and demanded it to be changed.In the fresh round of talks the water commissioners from both the sides will visit the place of Wuller barrage and India will respond to Pakistan's reservations on the design of the barrage.