June 05, 2007	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 19, 1428

LAHORE, June 4: India and Pakistan have agreed to hold a ‘conclusive session’ on Kishan-Ganga and Uri-II hydro-power projects in August this year. They have also decided to discuss Pakistan’s objections on the projects in the final meeting. However, India has rejected Pakistan’s demand for stopping work on the Uri-II hydro-power project.

Indus Basin Water Treaty Commissioner Syed Jamaat Ali Shah said on Monday that India had made certain changes in the design of the Kishan-ganga project, but the project was not free from objections.

Mr Shah headed Pakistan’s nine-member delegation which held talks with India on water issues.

He said that all issues had been discussed in detail, but they needed thorough deliberations because these were technical in nature. Pakistan, he added, had insisted that there should be a timeframe for a final conclusion.

Mr Shah said the Pakistani side had made it clear that under the Indus Basin Water Treaty, India could not build a gated structure on the Uri-II hydro-power project.

The Indian side had obliged the concern of Pakistan over the environmental impact of the project, he added.

He said the Indian side had agreed to provide flood data on time during the next monsoon session.

Pakistan has maintained that under the Treaty, India can store water, but cannot divert it.

The diversion of water by India can affect some hydropower development plans in Pakistan, such as Neelum-Jehlum project. It can also affect agriculture in some areas of Azad Kashmir.

India says that since Pakistan is not developing its hydro resources, the country does not take the diversion issue seriously.

Pakistan and India are discussing the Kishan-ganga hydro-power project after a gap of two years.