India can construct on tributaries of Indus, Jhelum, Chenab under IWT : Court of Arbitration

New Delhi, Aug. 13 -- The Permanent Court of Arbitration at the Hague has, in an Award on Issues of General Interpretation of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), said India is permitted by the Treaty to construct on the tributaries of the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab ("Western Rivers") even though the general rule is that India shall ''let flow'' the waters of the Western Rivers for Pakistan's use.

The Court in an Award on August 8, said that even though the ''general rule'' is that India shall "let flow" the waters of the Western Rivers for Pakistan's use, there are certain specified exceptions to this rule, including in relation to the generation of hydroelectric power.

In the Award the Court did not address the application of its findings t...