India has agreed to provide technical data of controversial Wullar Barrage to Pakistan within a month. This was the crux of two-day parleys between Pakistan and India on Wullar Barrage. Pakistani team was led by Secretary Water and Power, Javed Iqbal whereas Indian Secretary Water Resources, Dhruv Vijai Singh represented his country.
"India has agreed to give technical data of Wullar Barrage within one month and Pakistan will respond by September 2011," said Secretary Water and Power, Javed Iqbal while reading the joint statement. Indian Secretary Water Resources also called on the Minister for Water and Power Naveed Qamar who expressed the hope that both sides would ultimately reach an amicable resolution of the dispute on the design of the Wullar Barrage within the parameters of the World bank brokered Indus Water Treaty.
Both the countries are trying to resolve Wullar Barrage/ Tulbul Navigation Project dispute besides the Kashmir issue. Chenab and the Jhelum belong to Pakistan while the three western rivers, the Sutlej, the Beas and the Ravi belong to India. The waters from these rivers belong to the respective countries. However, in violation of the Indus Water Treaty, India has built several dams and barrages on the three western rivers which belong to Pakistan.
India had started a "navigation project" in 1985 to divert and steal the water from the Indus, the Chebab and the Jhelum but halted work on it two years later following protests from Pakistan. Pakistan argues that the project will obstruct the flow of water to Pakistan and threaten its irrigation and power projects.
According to the original Indian plan, the barrage was expected to be of 439-feet long and 40-feet wide, and would have a maximum storage capacity of 0.30 million acres feet of water. Pakistan took the case to Indus Waters Commission in 1986 which a year later admitted its failure to resolve the issue. Before Pakistan could move International Arbitral Court, India stopped construction.
Syed Naveed Qamar also urged the Indian side to consider providing Pakistan advance flood information, or real time data on floods, that would enable Pakistan to save life and property of millions. Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the following joint statement after the talks:
"Under the resumed dialogue process between Pakistan and India, delegations of the two countries met in Islamabad from 12-13 May 2011 to discuss the Wullar Barrage/ Tulbul Navigation project. The Pakistan delegation was led by Javed Iqbal, Secretary, Ministry of Water and Power, Government of Pakistan, and the Indian delegation was led by Mr Dhruv Vijai Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India. Secretary Singh and members of the Indian delegation also called on Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Water and Power, Government of Pakistan.
"The talks were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere. The two sides reiterated their commitment to bilateral engagement in a spirit of constructive co-operation. They discussed their respective positions on the Wullar Barrage/ Tulbul Navigation Project while reaffirming the commitment to the Indus Water Treaty 1960.
"Both sides emphasised the need for an early and amicable resolution of the issue within the ambit of the Indus Waters Treaty. In order to address the concerns of both countries, it was agreed that the Indian side shall forward comprehensive technical data to Pakistan within one month. The Pakistan side shall examine the said data and furnish its views to the Indian side by 15 September 2011. Both sides further agreed to take the matter forward in the light of the outcome of such technical consultations and in accordance with the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty."
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