During a two-day meeting of the permanent Indus commission in New Delhi, Pakistan raised objections on two hydroelectric projects being built by India. . This was the first meeting of the commission in more than two-and-half years.
- However, India has rejected Pakistan’s objections to the Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir and said both of them comply with the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960.
- Pakistan has for long objected to the construction of the Pakal Dul and Lower Kalnai projects on tributaries of the Chenab river, saying their designs are not in line with the treaty.
- The Pakal Dul project is being built on Marusadar river, a tributary of the Chenab in Kishtwar district.
- Lower Kalnai is being built on another tributary of the same river.
- As per the Indus Water Treaty , the eastern rivers of Beas, Sutlej and Ravi are under India’s control, while Pakistan controls the western rivers of Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.
- After bifurcation of Jammu-Kashmir, India has since cleared several hydropower projects for the region. Of these, Durbuk Shyok (19 MW), Shankoo (18.5 MW), Nimu Chilling (24 MW), Rongdo (12 MW), Ratan Nag (10.5 MW) are in Leh; and Mangdum Sangra (19 MW), Kargil Hunderman (25 MW) and Tamasha (12 MW) are Kargil.
