French engineering firm to verify claims on deep bottom gates at Kishenganga and Ratle projects.

Indus Water Treaty: Neutral Expert Appoints Foreign Specialists to Test India’s Sediment Data.

The Neutral Expert overseeing arbitration under the Indus Waters Treaty has appointed external specialists from the French engineering firm ISL Ingénierie to independently assess India’s technical submissions on sediment management. According to documents released by the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague, the experts will verify Indian data supporting the need for deep bottom gates at the Kishenganga and proposed Ratle hydropower projects. The specialists will conduct three core calculations covering sediment transit in the Chenab river system, hydraulic modelling near the Ratle dam, and sedimentation volumes at the Kishenganga reservoir using available bathymetric surveys. The exercise aims to test India’s claim that deep drawdown spillways are essential to manage heavy Himalayan sediment loads, a position repeatedly challenged by Pakistan. Despite India staying away from proceedings since May 2025, the Neutral Expert has continued hearings, with findings expected by March 2027.