New Delhi/Lahore, Aug. 25 (ANI): India and Pakistan have upped the ante on the issue of constructing another hydro-electric station over the Chenab River at Rattle on the Doda-Kishtwar Highway in Pakistan administered Kashmir.
According to a newspaper report in Lahore, mechanical and civil works are to be allotted in November this year, and the construction work on the Rattle project is to be completed by 2017.
Under the Indus Water Treaty, 1960, Pakistan has the exclusive rights over waters of Indus, Chenab and Jhelum.
Pakistan has repeatedly objected to India building dams on all rivers flowing into Pakistan. India has already built 14 hydro-electric plants on the Chenab River and is building more plants, which will enable it to block entire water of Chenab for 20-25 days.
Simultaneously, Pakistan has geared up its efforts to check India from going ahead on the controversial Kishanganga hydro power project. It has taken the case to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, explaining in detail how blatantly India was violating the Indus Water Treaty of 1960.
The treaty has in great detail covered a just distribution of water of rivers flowing from India to Pakistan. Under the treaty India cannot hold the water or hamper the flow of water during various seasons to Pakistan.
The Kishanganaga project, once completed in the next three years, would block at least 15 per cent of Neelum water to Pakistan Kashmir.
Pakistan claims that it has held a number of round of talks on the issue and pointed out the damaging Indian approach on joint use of rivers.
The Pakistan Senate's Standing Committee on Water and Power is keeping a close watch on the developments ever since the case has gone to the International Court of Arbitration (ICA).
Pakistan's representative in the ICA Mr Kamal Najeeb Ullah has already given a detailed view of Pakistan's stance on the issue to the committee.
India, on the other, continues to work on the dam project and hopes to complete it by 2016. (ANI)
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