Pakistan Objects To 4 Hydel Power Units By India In Chenab Basin In J&K

New Delhi, Sept 23, IRNA -- Pakistan on Sunday objected to construction of four hydel power projects by India in the Chenab basin in Jammu and Kashmir, claiming it could reduce flow of water into its territory, thus depriving its agriculture of an essential input. Pakistan raised the issue at the 109th meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission being held here, an official said. A five-member Pakistan delegation is here to attend the first meeting of Permanent body being held this year. A senior official, who attended the meeting, said Pakistan's objections to the four hydel projects were on the Agenda. Besides, we carried forward the discussions of the last meeting, pti quoted official as saying. According to the agenda of the meeting, Pakistan's objection to 850 MW Ratle, 120 MW Miyar, 48 MW Lower Kalnai and 1,000 MW Pakal Dul hydro projects, proposed to be constructed by India in Chenab basin, will be discussed in the four-day meeting. Chenab is a major river of Jammu and Kashmir. It forms in Himachal Pradesh and flows through Jammu and Kashmir into the plains of Pakistan's Punjab. The waters of the Chenab are allocated to Pakistan under the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty. The Indus system of rivers comprises three Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, and their tributaries) and three Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab, and their tributaries). In June, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had kick-started work on the Ratle project on Chenab river as part of efforts to tap hydroelectric potential in Jammu and Kashmir. The 850 MW Ratle project, which is the nations first hydroelectric project that was bid out through tariff-based international competitive bidding, will cost Rs 5,500 crore. The Miyar project envisages an installation of 120 MW capacity. The project component comprises construction of a 25 metre high diversion structure, about 6.6 km long head-race tunnel, an open to sky restricted orifice surge tank and a surface powerhouse complex on the right bank of river Chenab near Udaipur town. Under the provisions of the 1960 Treaty, the two Commissioners are required to meet at least once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan./end