|
-
India, Pak Discuss Tulbul
Navigation Project and Krishenganga Dam
-
Krishenganga design changed to
accommodate Pak concerns
-
Baglihar judgment from WB
expert in November
|
As part of the ongoing composite dialogue process started in February 2004,
India and Pakistan resumed discussions on the Wullar barrage that India is
constructing over the Jhelum River in Jammu & Kashmir called the Tulbul
Navigation Project. India wants to construct the barrage at the mouth of Wullar
near Sopore in Jammu and Kashmir to make the river more navigable in summer.
Pakistan claims that the project violates the Indus Water Treaty that the two
nations signed in 1960 to resolve water sharing differences of Pakistan’s
access to western rivers Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab and India’s rights over
eastern rivers of Ravi, Sutlej and Beas. Pakistan is also worried that Indian
control over the flow of the river that could lead to releasing large flows of
water if hostilities should break out.
India says that the treaty allows it certain uses in the upper catchments of
the three western rivers in Kashmir so long as it does not stop water flowing
into Pakistan.
Indian Water Secretary J Hari Narayan and his Pakistani counterpart Ashfaq
Mehmood are discussing the issue first surfaced in 1984. India halted
construction work in 1987 after Pakistan raised objection to its design but it
has not abandoned the project.
Mehmood said “We are satisfied with the progress in talks over the Wullar
Barrage but such issues take time to be resolved.”
The Indus Water Commissioners of both the countries would meet in Lahore to
discuss differences over Krishenganga project being constructed by India in
Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan worried about continued water flow, objects to this
project also. India's Indus Commissioner, DK Mehta is expected to convey design
changes to accommodate Pakistan's reservations in the Krishenganga project.
Yet another area of disagreement is the Baglihar Dam. Both countries agreed to
have a neutral World Bank-appointed expert arbitrate the differences and his
judgment was expected in November.
|
