Sir: I am writing in reference to Abdul Basit Khan’s article, ‘IWT 1960 is not delivering’ (Daily Times, April 1, 2011). It is disheartening to read such articles, which lack objectivity. The author claims subjectively, by mentioning a list of dams, that these have already “tremendously decreased the flow” in the western rivers allocated to Pakistan by the Indus Water Treaty (IWT). Out of the names of projects he mentions, only Dulhasti has been built. To my knowledge, Pakistan has not objected to that project. The remaining projects are either in the proposal stage or the works are about to start. There can thus be no impounding of water leading to ‘tremendously’ reduced flow into Pakistan. Again, the IWT specifies clearly that there can be no ‘storage dams’ (except as allowed) on the western rivers by India. These are all run-of-the-river hydroelectric projects where, according to IWT, any impounded water must be released downstream within seven days. There are some locations wherein it must even be within one day. One has to realise that irrespective of the number of such hydroelectric projects upstream, it is the amount of water that ultimately reaches Pakistan and measured at its rim stations that matters. It is also a myth that the IWT did not allow any storage for India on the western rivers. I suggest the author to at least cursorily read the IWT to realise that. Pakistan already gets roughly four times more water on the Indus system of rivers than India. If the author questions the fairness of the IWT, he should realise that it would work both ways. The upper riparian India has not stopped waters even during wars; in fact, it has no means of doing so. The IWT has delivered successfully for the past five decades in spite of wars, skirmishes, terrorism and enduring hostility. Its dispute resolution mechanism has worked as we saw in Baglihar and as we are now seeing in Kishenganga. It would help if facts were discussed, instead of conspiracy theories, especially on such serious matters. SUBRAMANYAM SRIDHARAN Bangalore, India