Sources told The News here on Saturday that India had blocked another 9,000 cusecs water, storing it in the Baglihar Dam. They said India had released just 10,739 cusecs at the Marala Head Works without giving any prior notice, which was in violation of the Indus Waters Treaty 1960.

In their meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, the Indian prime minister had assured President Zardari that New Delhi would not violate the treaty, but another violation has surfaced in less than a fortnight.

Since flows are reduced in the Chenab River, Pakistan received 19,351 cusecs on Thursday, which was reduced to just 10,739 cusecs on Saturday.

The Chenab water has been blocked despite the fact that the Indian authorities are going to allow an inspection of the Baglihar project and to also hold a meeting of the permanent Indus Waters Commission from October 18-24.

The three-member team of Pakistani officials will leave Pakistan on October 18 for an inspection and three more officials will join them in New Delhi for talks to take back the stored water in the Rabi season, Pakistani Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah told this correspondent.

The commissioner said the Pakistani team will talk to the Indian authorities on the violation of the treaty in reference with the Baglihar project. “Certainly, we have complaints for which we will do our best to get compensated,” he said.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced to build four other projects on the pattern of the Baglihar project on the Chenab River and this would certainly be an eye opener for the Pakistani authorities.

At the same time, the sources within the Indus River System Authority (Irsa) confirmed the reduced water flows at the Marala Head Works.

He also informed The News about the drastic cut in water releases to the provinces from the Indus River.

This cut in the water flows will multiply the power crisis not only in the rural areas but also in the urban areas.

The Irsa officials said they had already informed the Wapda and the Pepco about the expected cut in water discharges from the Indus River, needed by the provinces for Rabi sowing. “We had warned them of this scenario in September so that they, Wapda and Pepco, could make their own arrangements for power supply,” Irsa officials said.

Besides, water is being stored at Marala, Chashma and other such places from the major dams in order to utilise it for the Rabi season starting from October end.

“If we do not do so, we will have nothing to provide and there will be a devastating situation as the Rabi-sowing period begins,” he said.

From the Tarbela Dam, the Irsa has approved 30,000 cusecs reduction per day starting from Friday onwards. Its total flow was 55,000 cusecs on Saturday. “The Punjab has asked the Irsa to reduce water to its canals in order to store it and utilise it for Rabi sowing,” he added.