Boston-based Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia has observed that India must consult with co-riparian countries for any project on shared rivers.
The Alliance formed in 1993, came up with the remarks at a meeting held recently at MIT, Cambridge, USA to discuss India's recently revived River Linking Project, according to a message received here.

Although Pakistan has opened up its borders for enhanced trade with India, water disputes remain unresolved which several analysts, including US officials as noted in Wikileaks, believe may well be the reason for a war between the two countries.

India has already announced it would complete 330-megawatt Kishanganga hydroelectric project by 2014 despite the fact that the issue is pending in the International Court of Arbitration (ICA)/ neutral expert at The Hague in the Netherlands.

A high-level team of water commissioners from India and Pakistan and members of the International Court of Arbitration on Thursday inspected the 330-megawatt Kishanganga Hydro Power Project in north Kashmir's Bandipura district.

The seven-member team, including a hydrologist, reached Gurez where they inspected the proposed dam site near Malik Kadal, a Kashmir news agency quoted a senior official as saying.

The team has come to inspect the project before the next hearing of the International Court of Arbitration being held at The Hague later this month.

The UPA Government, which had earlier faced a major embarrassment from its ally Trinamool Congress on the Teesta water agreement, has renewed efforts to convince Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to sign the pact with Bangladesh on grounds that it is beneficial to both countries.

Under the dialogue process between India and Pakistan, the delegations of the two countries met here on March 27-28, to discuss the Tulbul Navigation and Wullar Barrage Project.

The Indian delegation was led by Dhruv Vijai Singh, Secretary Ministry of Water Resources and the Pakistan delegation was led by Imtiaz Kazi, Secretary Water and Power.

Secretary Kazi and some members of Pakistan delegation called on India’s Minister of State for Water Resources Vincent H. Pala.

The talks were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere.

The Indus Water Treaty has now become ineffective as India is continuously violating all clauses of the treaty and Pakistan is not challenging them at any international forum by tacit approbation. International Water Expert Engr Bashir Malik, who has served United Nations and World Bank as chief technical adviser on Thursday said the cheapest and environment-friendly solution to water and energy crisis in Pakistan was the Kalabagh Dam, which could only be built by a patriotic and brave leader having the courage to break all the barriers in the best national interest.

Sindh Taas Water Council (STWC) on Friday decided to launch a drive to protect Pakistani rivers from illegal Indian occupation, said Chairman STWC Zahoorul Hassan Dahar.

Talking to the media, he said that the drive would be launched from February 23 under the banner of 'Darya Bachawo Tehreek' from Multan Press Club.

Hassan said that the movement would be launched at national and international levels.

"We'll raise voice against Indian violation of Indus Basin Water Treaty at all international forums.

Fishermen held a demonstration in the city on Tuesday against India’s controversial Tipaimukh dam saying it would adversely affect livelihoods and life of over three lakh fishermen in Bangladesh’s north-eastern districts.

Speaking at a rally in front of the National Press Club fishermen’s leaders said that at least 10 rivers in Bangladesh including the Surma, Kushiyara and Meghna would dry up causing gradual desertification in the northeastern districts of lower riparian Bangladesh.

They said it would directly affect the life and livelihood of the country’s fishermen.

A delegation comprising judge of International Court of Arbitration (ICA) and Indian Secretary Water Resources, are to inspect 969 MW Neelum Jhehlum Hydroelectric Project to weigh Pakistan's arguments against construction of 330 MW Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project in held Kashmir, well informed sources told Business Recorder.

The sources said one member of the delegation has already reached Islamabad whereas others are expected on Friday evening or Saturday.

The delegation will stay in Pakistan for two days.

Water resources minister Ramesh Chandra Sen on Sunday told the parliament that the government was selecting experts to constitute the Bangladesh side on the joint survey team for studying the impacts of the proposed construction of Tipaimukh Dam across the Barak River in the Indian state of Manipur.

‘Bangladesh has already sent a proposal to India for conducting a joint survey on the impacts of the proposed Tipaimukh (Multipurpose) Hydroelectric Project on Bangladesh. The process of forming the Bangladesh side on the joint survey team is in progress,’ he