News
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
No breakthrough in Indo-Pak water talksStaff Report
LAHORE: No major breakthrough was made on Monday during talks between the Indian Indus Water commissioner and Pakistan’s Indus Water commissioner regarding the distribution of water between the two countries.
On the conclusion of the second round of talks, Pakistan’s Indus Water Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah told journalists that the visiting delegation had heard Pakistani reservations about Delhi building dams on its western rivers, adding that the Indian delegation assured them that these reservations would be removed after they returned to their own country.
“Continuous dialogues will help solve the water issues with India,” he said, adding that according to the Indus Water Treaty, Delhi was bound to provide Islamabad with information at least six months before finalising the construction of any dam projects.
He said the Indian Water Authority had been requested to extend the duration of this period, adding that they had also asked the Indus Water Commission to install telemetry systems in remote areas so that the flow of water from these areas could be properly monitored.
Aranga Nathan, the Indian Indus Water commissioner, said they had provided advance information to Pakistan regarding the construction of the Nimoo Bazgo Dam.
When asked if there was any possibility of changing the project’s design, Nathan said that although they had “fulfilled all requirements of the treaty”, they would still try to remove Pakistani reservations after reviewing the project’s technical and engineering aspects.
About the agenda of the third round of the dialogue, he said the same issue would be discussed.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk