ISLAMABAD: Dialogue between India and Pakistan over construction of hydropower projects by India in the disputed border areas of China, India and Pakistan, including Kargil, remained inconclusive.
India has categorically rejected Pakistan’s concerns over the provision of data on the flow of eastern rivers Ravi, Sutlej and Beas as per the 1989 data sharing arrangement.
A 12-member Indian delegation led by the Indian Indus Water Commissioner PK Sexena has been in the federal capital Islamabad for the past two days, where talks are underway between the two countries’ water commissioners on exchanging river flow data, including controversial water projects.
The second round of talks began with a 45-minute delay.
For security reasons, security officials prevented Pakistani Indus Water Commissioner Syed Mehar Ali Shah from entering the meeting place at local hotel in Islamabad.
The Pakistani commissioner went back to the Ministry of Water Resources due to misconduct by security personnel.
Later, with the intervention of senior officials, Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner chaired a high-level meeting on water resources.
In the first round of talks, Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah, along with his Indian counterpart, conveyed technical concerns over the construction of the 644 MW Khetro Hydropower Project under construction on the Chenab River by India.
Pakistan’s position on the controversial project was that the design of project could affect the flow of the Chenab River in Pakistan.
This will have a direct impact on the agricultural areas adjacent to Head Marala, a major reservoir near Sialkot in Pakistan.
According to sources, the tussle between the Indus Water Commissioners of the two countries started at the time when the Pakistani Indus Water Commissioner presented his position to his Indian counterpart regarding the provision of data on the flow of eastern rivers to Pakistan.
While Rejecting Pakistan’s position, Indian Indus Water Commissioner PK Saxena said that India could only provide data on the flow of eastern rivers to Pakistan in case of high floods forecast during monsoon.
In response to the position of Indian Indus Water Commissioner, Syed Mehr Ali Shah said that human life is of no importance to him.
He questioned his Indian counterpart as to who would be responsible for the loss of human lives in Pakistan due to floods in case of non-provision of water flow data in the eastern rivers by India in time.
However, the Indian authorities rejected Pakistan’s position, that under the 1989 unanimous proposal, to provide data on the flow of Indian eastern rivers with Pakistan before the onset of the monsoon.
In the second round of the meeting was held on Wednesday, Pakistan raised its objections with India on the design of Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai, the controversial projects with India.
According to Pakistan Indus Water Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah, India has assured that Pakistan will be informed of the positive developments regarding the design of the project by May this year.
While India’s position on Lower Kalnai was that development work on the said project has been stopped since 2014.
The third and final round of negotiations will take place today. The Indian delegation will leave for India via Lahore Wagah Border after dinner hosted by Pakistan Indus Water Commissioner’s office.
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