Indo-Pak Indus Commission rules out any joint inspection

The Permanent Indus Commissions of India and Pakistan have no plans to visit J-K where India proposes to construct the 450 MW Baglihar Hydel...

The Permanent Indus Commissions of India and Pakistan have no plans to visit J-K where India proposes to construct the 450 MW Baglihar Hydel Power Project in Doda district. Normally both sides undertake a joint inspection of project sites.

The joint Commission made this clear at its 87th annual three-day meeting here today. The meeting assumes significance in the backdrop of the demands raised at the BJP headquarters here and also by J-K Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah for abrogating the treaty.

The Minister of State for Water Resources, Bijoya Chakravorty, however, denied any such move. Today’s meeting discussed the progress of permanent Indus Commission with the Pakistani side, side-stepping the issue of having neutral experts on the Baglihar hydel project.

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‘‘We will speak about it after the meeting,’’ Pakistan Indus Commissioner Jamait Ali Shah said when asked whether Islamabad would insist on the neutral experts.

As per the Indus Waters Treaty’s provisions, the Permanent Indus Commissions of India and Pakistan are required to meet at least once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan and submit reports to their respective governments.

The Indus Water Treaty came into effect retrospectively from April 1, 1960.

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