06-01-2010, 12:41 PM
NEW DELHI (Agencies) – In a significant development, Pakistan has withdrawn its objection to construction of Uri-II and Chutak Hydel Power projects in Held Kashmir, reported Indian media on Monday.
At the Indus Water Commissioner-level talks here, Pakistani delegation said it had no objection to the designs of the two power projects after the Indian side provided details of these, official sources said.
Pakistan had earlier raised objections over the 240 MW Uri-II project being constructed on Jhelum River in Held Kashmir valley and the 44 MW Chutak plant being built on Suru, a tributary of Indus River in Kargil district of Held Kashmir’s Ladakh province.
Pakistan had claimed that the projects would deprive it of its share of water.
The breakthrough came on the first day of three-day Indus Water Commission talks.
The Pakistani delegation is led by Indus Water Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah while the Indian side is headed by his counterpart G Ranganathan.
This is for the first time that Pakistan has accepted the designs of power projects at the level of Permanent Indus Commission, sources said. Earlier, it took a ministerial meeting to make Pakistan agree to Salal Power Project.
Under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan has exclusive right over three of the common rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab - while India has exclusive right over Sutlej, Ravi and Beas.
The two projects are in an advance stage and are likely to be completed by the end of this year.
At the Indus Water Commissioner-level talks here, Pakistani delegation said it had no objection to the designs of the two power projects after the Indian side provided details of these, official sources said.
Pakistan had earlier raised objections over the 240 MW Uri-II project being constructed on Jhelum River in Held Kashmir valley and the 44 MW Chutak plant being built on Suru, a tributary of Indus River in Kargil district of Held Kashmir’s Ladakh province.
Pakistan had claimed that the projects would deprive it of its share of water.
The breakthrough came on the first day of three-day Indus Water Commission talks.
The Pakistani delegation is led by Indus Water Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah while the Indian side is headed by his counterpart G Ranganathan.
This is for the first time that Pakistan has accepted the designs of power projects at the level of Permanent Indus Commission, sources said. Earlier, it took a ministerial meeting to make Pakistan agree to Salal Power Project.
Under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan has exclusive right over three of the common rivers - Indus, Jhelum and Chenab - while India has exclusive right over Sutlej, Ravi and Beas.
The two projects are in an advance stage and are likely to be completed by the end of this year.