Islamabad : Pakistan has expressed concern over construction of a dam in Jammu and Kashmir and termed it a violation of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), media reported Monday.
It also said that four other proposed dams on the Chenab would be in violation of the treaty, Dawn online reported.
The objections were raised by the Pakistani IWT commissioner, Mirza Asif Beg, Sunday during the first round of a meeting with his Indian counterpart, Sheraz Memon who had arrived in Lahore to discuss disputes between the two countries.
Pakistani authorities had raised objections to the diversion of Chenab water by India by constructing hydropower projects, including the 690MW Ratli Dam, 1,000 MW Pikkal Dam, 1,190 MW Karthai Dam and 600 MW Kero Dam and said this was a violation of the treaty.
“Pakistan has also raised objections over design of the Kishanganga Dam that may reduce the required water discharges to Pakistan,” an official said.
He said the authorities had urged Indian IWT officials to change the dam’s design.
The officials from the two countries would discuss all issues in detail during the next round in order to resolve them amicably, he said.
The Indus Waters Treaty is a water-sharing treaty between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank which was signed in Karachi Sep 19, 1960 by then Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan president Ayub Khan.