India has refused to allow Pakistan to inspect the controversial water projects being built on the Chenab River.
A private media outlet reported that Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Mehr Ali Shah had telephoned his Indian counterpart PK Saxena on this account. Shah reminded him of talks held in Lahore two months ago where both sides had spoken about Pakistani experts inspecting the projects.
According to reports, Saxena rejected the Pakistan demand.
Shah had earlier written to his Indian counterpart in this regard and had emphasised Pakistan’s right to inspect water projects being built on the river in accordance with the Indus Waters Treaty. Pakistan had also sought pertinent data, which was refused by India.
A Pakistani team was expected to visit India this month to inspect the water projects. India cancelled the planned visit at the last moment.
Pakistan had condemned the Indian decision to bar Pakistani delegation from dams’ inspection despite earlier commitment.
The Pakistani government had earlier conveyed that the design of two under-construction hydroelectric projects of India in Chenab basin, namely Pakal Dul (1,000MW) and Lower Kalnai (48MW), violated the provisions of Indus Waters Treaty, while the Indian side claims that it has right to build these projects and holds that their design is fully in compliance of set guidelines.
The Indian delegation had arrived in Pakistan on August 29 to attend the two-day meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) meeting to discuss water issues between the two countries.
Soon after the Indian delegation left the country, it decided to allow the Pakistani delegation to inspect the contentious dam. However, the Indian government on Wednesday backtracked from its earlier decision.
The Permanent Indus Commission was formed under Indus Waters Treaty, signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, it includes the Indus commissioners of both the countries. The treaty provides for both the commissioners to meet at least once every year, alternately in India and Pakistan.
The treaty specifies that the waters of three eastern rivers namely Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, had been reserved for India while that of western rivers, namely Indus, Chenab and Jhelum, are for Pakistan. However, India claims it has unrestricted rights to develop hydroelectric power projects on the western rivers, within the specified parameters of design.