India justifies its stand in the Permanent Indus Commission meeting
Total Views |
New Delhi, Mar 24: The annual Permanent Indus Commission meeting was recently held after a gap of over two years. Before the meeting, Pakistan had raised objections to the designs of Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai hydropower plants which are under construction in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. India has responded by justifying its stand.
Also read: CJI SA Bobde recommends Justice NV Ramana as his successor
Pakistan had also sought more information regarding the projects in Ladakh which were sanctioned after abrogation of Article 370. In the meeting, both the sides also discussed other issues under Indus Waters Treaty. Indian side was led by PK Saxena, India’s Indus Commissioner while the delegation from Pakistan was led by Indus Commissioner Syed Muhammad Meher Ali Shah.
The meeting was significant because this is the first important engagement between both the countries after Indian and Pakistani militaries had announced to strictly observe a ceasefire along Line of Control and other sectors.
Also read: India at UN backs peace in Afghanistan and calls for immediate ceasefire
The Pakal Dul Dam is an under-construction concrete-face rock-fill dam, which is being constructed on Marusadar River, a tributary of Chenab River. The dam is located in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir and is being constructed with the objective of generating 1000 MW of hydroelectric power. The dam will divert water towards south, into power station of the reservoir of DULHasti Dam on Chenab river, through 10 km long head race tunnel.
The Chenab river flows in India and Pakistan and is one of the five major rivers in Punjab region. The river originates from upper Himalayas in Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh and flows in Jammu, Punjab and Pakistan, before joining the Indus River near Uch Sharif. Under the Indus Water Treaty that was signed under the leadership of Former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, waters of river Chenab were allocated to Pakistan.