IWT task force to ensure fullest exploitation of India's rights: MEA

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday said that the government has formed the inter-ministerial task force on Indus Water Treaty of 1960 to ensure fullest exploitation of India's rights in the river dispute.

"A task force has been created by the government for ensuring the fullest exploitation of India's rights in Indus Water Treaty of 1960. The Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga rejuvenation is the coordinating ministry," MEA official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

"Other relevant stakeholders are members including the Ministry of External Affairs. In addition, there is an involvement of concerned state governments. Now, the information on the outcome of the first meeting of the task force is still awaited," he added.

The inter-ministerial task force to be headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Principal Secretary Nripendra Mishra will look into all strategic aspects of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan.

Other members of the task force include NSA Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and Secretaries in the ministries of Finance, Environment, Power and Water Resource.

Pakistan had earlier in September this year approached the World Bank, flagging concerns that the design of the Kishenganga project was not in line with the criteria laid down under IWT. Pakistan had then demanded the international lender to set up a Court of Arbitration to look into the matter.