*LAHORE: A delegation of Pakistan’s water officials will leave for NewDelhi on Monday (today) for a two-day meeting of the Permanent Commissionon Indus Waters.*
Pakistan’s eight-member delegation to be led by Indus Water CommissionerMehr Ali Shah will hold talks with India’s Water Commissioner Pardeep KumarSaxena on March 23 and 24 in the Indian capital.
The previous session of talks was held in Lahore, two years ago. Pakistanwill present its objections over India’s contentious water projects onChenab river, sources said.
Pakistan have objections with regard to four contentious Indian hydroelectric projects including Pakal Dul and Ratle power project.
In the previous round of talks in Lahore, officials from both countries hadfailed to gain any progress over the river water dispute and had ended in astalemate.
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The Permanent Indus Commission (PIC) was formed under the Indus WaterTreaty which includes Indus commissioners of both countries. The treatyspecifies that the waters of three eastern rivers namely Ravi, Beas andSutlej, had been reserved for India whereas western rivers, namely Indus,Chenab and Jhelum, are for Pakistan.
The dispute arises over the Indian claims that it has unrestricted rightsto develop hydroelectric power projects on the western rivers.
