Flow Of Water From Rivers To Pak Stopped

NEW DELHI, April 1 (PTI) — Parliament was informed today that no water from the three eastern rivers of Punjab — the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi — was flowing down into Pakistan from this morning with the expiry yesterday of the Indus Waters Treaty. The Minister for Irrigation and Power, Dr. K.L. Rao, informed agitated members in both the Houses that some 4,700 cusecs of water which was being allowed to flow into Pakistan under the Treaty till yesterday had since been diverted to the canals in Rajasthan, Haryana and Punjab. He said in reply to call-attention motions in both the Houses that India would be able to use the entire water in the three rivers for most part of the year but for a month or so during monsoons, some flood waters from the Beas would flow into Pakistan till the Pong Dam and the storage on the Ravi were completed. When several members complained of inordinate delay in the execution of the projects on the Indian side, Dr. Rao said there had been no technical or administrative delay. The delay was largely on account of lack of finance. Out of Rs. 1,000 crores earmarked for these, Rs. 575 crores had already been spent. Dr. Rao said that he was trying to persuade the Government to allot more than the amount of Rs. 185 crores already provided in the Fourth Plan for this purpose. He rejected a demand from several members in the two Houses for taking over the Rajasthan Canal Project as a Central project. He said this question had been considered on several occasions and it had been decided not to take over the project from the State Government on financial grounds. Members complained that while Pakistan had been able to complete the Mangla Dam Project within the period stipulated by the Treaty, India had lagged behind. They wanted the Government to expedite the projects on the Indian side.