Islamabad, Sept 17 (ANI): Alleging that India had slowed down the water flow of the Chenab river, thereby violating the Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan is learnt to have decided to move the World Bank in a last ditch effort for arbitration asking for huge agricultural loses.

Sources in the Pakistani Ministry for Water Resources said that India reduced water flow in the Chenab River thereby hitting hard the kharif crop in Pakistan , and rendering huge financial losses to Pakistani farmers.

India has committed gross violations of the Indus Water Treaty by reducing water flows in the Chenab River to fill Baglihar Dam. Pakistan will demand compensation for the water loss, the Daily Times quoted the sources as saying.

Chairing a high-level meeting to consider India s interference in the flow of the Chenab River, Pakistan Water and Power Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf decided to lodge a strong protest with India against the violation.

The Punjab Irrigation Department had also been asked to assess all losses incurred to the kharif crop, added the sources.

Sources said Pakistan would take up the issue with India on a water commissioner-level meeting likely to be held in New Delhi . We will demand compensation estimated at 0.2 million cusecs in water loss. If India does not accept the violation, Pakistan will go to the WB for arbitration, they said.

They added that Pakistan would ask India to compensate the water loss by releasing water in the Ravi, Sutlej and Chenab rivers. According to them, the meeting had also asked the Punjab Irrigation Department to assess the losses that would be placed before the Indian authorities during the water commissioners meeting. (ANI)

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