New Delhi: India has been actively dealing with a Slovenia hurdle which, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC), is learnt to have raised questions on New Delhi's decision to hold in abeyance the Indo-Pak Indus Waters Treaty, largely due to its traditional position to treat water as a constitutional right.
ET has gathered that a better convergence has been achieved after rounds of heavy diplomacy and deliberations across both capitals as well as in New York.
The issue also figured when the Slovenian state secretary visited India and met external affairs minister S Jaishankar.
It is understood that Slovenia has now developed a better understanding of India's position and when the delegation of MPs visited the country, views were exchanged on the issue. New Delhi is learnt to have drawn attention to the rationale behind its move and how the step is aimed at sending a message to Pakistan which promotes cross-border terror.
It has also been underlined that India was not looking to inflict water scarcity on the lower riparian areas of Pakistan, as alleged by the latter, and has been seeking modification and review for the last few years - an effort stonewalled consistently by Pakistan.
Slovenia's concerns, meanwhile, are linked to its own strong position and domestic politics on access to water. In 2016, Slovenia became the first European Union nation to make access to drinking water a fundamental human right through a constitutional amendment. It also successfully enlisted the support from 150 countries for a proposal to appoint a UN Special Envoy for Water, carving a role for itself in global water diplomacy.
With Pakistan claiming that India aims to 'weaponise' the IWT and deprive it of river waters, Slovenia initially felt concerned over India's decision to put the treaty in abeyance, ET has gathered. India, thereafter, doubled up on its efforts with the nation in the Balkans and a key all-party delegation has now been deputed to travel to Slovenia to explain the context.
The Pahalgam attack apart, it is being pointed out that while India has respected the IWT for 60 years, repeated hurdles have been posed by Pakistan on the development of hydel projects on the Indian side which have led to major energy deficits. The pressing need for IWT modification in the light of climate change, changed demographics and clean energy goals has also been underlined.
India and Slovenia, in fact, also collaborate closely on water issues. The two countries inked agreements in 2019 between IIT Kanpur and VGB, Slovenia, for the Clean Ganga Operations. The cGanga at IIT-Kanpur and Slovenia's Space.SI, a centre of excellence of space sciences and technologies, are also collaborating to set up a digital platform for remote sensing of river basins in India and around the world. A joint satellite mission development to river basin usage is also in the works.
ET has gathered that a better convergence has been achieved after rounds of heavy diplomacy and deliberations across both capitals as well as in New York.
The issue also figured when the Slovenian state secretary visited India and met external affairs minister S Jaishankar.
It is understood that Slovenia has now developed a better understanding of India's position and when the delegation of MPs visited the country, views were exchanged on the issue. New Delhi is learnt to have drawn attention to the rationale behind its move and how the step is aimed at sending a message to Pakistan which promotes cross-border terror.
It has also been underlined that India was not looking to inflict water scarcity on the lower riparian areas of Pakistan, as alleged by the latter, and has been seeking modification and review for the last few years - an effort stonewalled consistently by Pakistan.
Slovenia's concerns, meanwhile, are linked to its own strong position and domestic politics on access to water. In 2016, Slovenia became the first European Union nation to make access to drinking water a fundamental human right through a constitutional amendment. It also successfully enlisted the support from 150 countries for a proposal to appoint a UN Special Envoy for Water, carving a role for itself in global water diplomacy.
With Pakistan claiming that India aims to 'weaponise' the IWT and deprive it of river waters, Slovenia initially felt concerned over India's decision to put the treaty in abeyance, ET has gathered. India, thereafter, doubled up on its efforts with the nation in the Balkans and a key all-party delegation has now been deputed to travel to Slovenia to explain the context.
The Pahalgam attack apart, it is being pointed out that while India has respected the IWT for 60 years, repeated hurdles have been posed by Pakistan on the development of hydel projects on the Indian side which have led to major energy deficits. The pressing need for IWT modification in the light of climate change, changed demographics and clean energy goals has also been underlined.
India and Slovenia, in fact, also collaborate closely on water issues. The two countries inked agreements in 2019 between IIT Kanpur and VGB, Slovenia, for the Clean Ganga Operations. The cGanga at IIT-Kanpur and Slovenia's Space.SI, a centre of excellence of space sciences and technologies, are also collaborating to set up a digital platform for remote sensing of river basins in India and around the world. A joint satellite mission development to river basin usage is also in the works.
