Pak withdraws objection to two J-K power projects

New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) In a significant development,
Pakistan Monday withdrew its objection to construction of
Uri-II and Chutak hydel power projects in India's northernmost
state Jammu and Kashmir.
At the Indus Water Commissioner-level talks here, the
Pakistani side said it had no objection to the designs of the
two power projects after the Indian side provided details of
these, official sources told PTI.
Pakistan had earlier raised objections over the 240 MW
Uri-II project being constructed on Jhelum river in Kashmir
valley and the 44 MW Chutak plant being built on Suru, a
tributary of Indus river in Kargil district of Jammu and
Kashmir's Ladakh province.
Pakistan had claimed that the projects would deprive it
of its share of water.
The breakthrough came on the first day of three-day
Indus Water Commission talks. The Indian delegation is led by
Indus Water Commissioner G Ranganathan while the Pakistani
side is headed by his counterpart Syed Jamaat Ali Shah.
This is for the first time that Pakistan has accepted
the designs of power projects at the level of Permanent
Indus Commission, sources said. Earlier, it took a ministerial
meeting to make Pakistan agree to Salal power project.
Under the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, Pakistan has
exclusive right over three of the common rivers -- Indus,
Jhelum and Chenab -- while India has exclusive right over
Sutlej, Ravi and Beas.
The two projects are in an advance stage and are
likely to be completed by the end of this year. (MORE) PTI