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Pakistan objects to power projects in J&K

— File Photo: Nissar Ahmad

Rising costs: A view of the Baglihar Hydro-electric Power Project on the river Chenab near Chanderkote in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir.

NEW DELHI: There could be trouble ahead for power projects in Jammu and Kashmir as the Pakistan government had objected to construction of some hydro power projects proposed in the State, official sources said here.

The sources said the projects were, however, in compliance with the Indus Water Treaty 1960.

Under the treaty, India was required to furnish information on new run-of-river projects and storage projects on the Jhelum, Chenab and Indus. Such information had been sent.

However, Pakistan had objected to the projects.

The Union Ministry was of the view that the designs were in compliance with the provisions of the treaty.

A senior official said: “We are in touch with the concerned authorities through correspondence and meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission within the purview of the treaty and also through Secretary-level talks. We are hopeful that the whole thing would be resolved through constant dialogue between the two sides.”

The cost of the 450 MW Baglihar project in Jammu and Kashmir had gone up sharply from Rs. 4,000 crore to Rs. 5,000 crore due to damage caused by floods in July 2005 and time over-run. “The continued delay is creating a lot of uncertainty and has made the project almost unviable,” an official said.

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