LAHORE – India has agreed to the proposal put forward by Pakistan to review the design of Nimo Bazgo Dam project, also declaring the Pak demand of reactivating the telemetry system on rivers as acceptable.
This was decided on the first day of three-day meeting of the Indus River Commission held in the provincial capital on Sunday. G Aranga Nathan heads the nine-member Indian delegation while Jamaat Ali Shah is leading the Pakistani side. Pakistan informed the Indian delegation about the objections to Nimo Bazgo Dam, which was the main agenda of the first day of the meeting comprising the issues of the rapid decrease of water level in River Chenab, the construction of controversial Nimo Bazgo Dam and Chutak Power Plants on the River Indus by India that would cause blockage of more than 35,000 cusec water.
The Indian delegation, however, agreed to the proposals put forward by Pakistan and assured to consider the suggestions in near future but sought more time to deliberate the issue.
The Pakistani delegation informed Indians that Pakistan had already installed telemetry system for monitoring water shares among the provinces of the country while there were apprehensions and unrest among the people, particularly the farmers’ community, over the water shortage due to the Indian projects on rivers.
Pakistan’s representatives stressed that it was the duty of India to ensure provision of complete water share of Pakistan despite having partial facility of use of water under Indus Water Treaty.
However, Jamaat Ali Shah said as the dialogues were of non-political nature, no immediate breakthrough could be expected, adding that Pakistan recorded its protest against the construction of all the controversial dams by India. He further said that the Indus Water Treaty Commission wanted to resolve all the pending issues in order to win the trust of public.
Appreciating the suggestion of the installation of telemetry system, Aranga Nathan asked for more time to deliberate the issue with the Indian experts. He said the telemetry system would help in minimising uncertainty and confusion between the two countries.
He said in case the commission failed to resolve the water issues in present session, another meeting was likely to be called soon. The meeting between the Indus River Commissioners of both the countries would continue on Monday (today) and Tuesday as well.
Source: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/29-Mar-2010/India-agrees-to-review-Nimo-Bazgo-Dam-project
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