No headway was made on Thursday during the secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan on the controversial Wullar barrage on Jehlum River in Indian-held Kashmir (IHK), as Pakistan stuck to its stance that no barrage could be built on the main river as per the Indus Water Treaty of 1960.
The two-day secretary level talks are being held in Islamabad between the water secretaries of the two countries, with Water and Power Secretary Javed Iqbal leading the Pakistani team and Water Resources Secretary Dhruv Vijai Singh representing New Delhi. An official source said the Indian side took the stance that Wullar barrage was not a storage project but part of Tulbal Navigation Project to make Jhelum River navigable.
However, Pakistan rejected the argument and maintained that a barrage on the main Jehlum River was a contravention of the IWT. Talking to reporters, Water and Power Secretary Javed Iqbal said the construction of Wullar barrage on main Jhelum River was a clear violation of Indus Water Treaty and it would not be allowed. “We will not allow the barrage’s construction with the present design, as it will have catastrophic effect on our agriculture sector.”
India wants to promote tourism in IHK and the barrage would make navigation possible between Sopore and Baramulla even during the lean season from October to February. The project would promote international tourism in IHK, but would have catastrophic impact on food security in Pakistan, as important Rabi crops like wheat are cultivated during the said period.
Pakistan maintained its stance that as per the treaty, up to 10,000 acre feet of water could be stored on the main Jhelum River, while the Indian design envisages storage capacity of 300,000 acre feet. Since 1987, both the countries have held 13 rounds of talks on the controversial project.
Indian Water Resources Secretary Dhruv Vijai Singh said controlling water for navigation was a permissible activity under the treaty. He said India was ready to make changes in the original design.
