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| Baglihar may hit roadblock | | Pak to petition against project before ICL | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Jan 10
In the election year when government is counting its advantages by proposed commissioning of Baglihar project by the middle of this year, the rival of Jammu and Kashmir's waters Pakistan is all set to petition before the International Court of Arbitration against the project.
The 450 Megawatt power project coming up on River Chenab is a bone of contention between India and Pakistan making Jammu and Kashmir the ultimate sufferer.
The state government had recently billed the near completion of Baglihar project as one of its major achievements. Governor SK Sinha in his address to the joint sitting of legislature on Monday last had said, "It is a matter of satisfaction that the Baglihar Hydroelectric Project (450MW) will be commissioned by the middle of 2008".
Raymond Lafitte, the neutral expert who arbitrated on the project, had in his final determination issued on February 12, 2007 subscribed to Pakistan's three points of difference but upheld India's stand on the design of the dam's spillway gates.
Pakistani authorities, however, believe Lafitte's ruling will allow India to regulate the waters of the Chenab river and inflict "huge damage" to the irrigation system in Punjab province, which meets 85 per cent of the food requirements of the country.
Water and Power Secretary Ismail Qureshi yesterday held a meeting with legal experts to draw up a case to challenge Lafitte's ruling in the ICA, The News reported today. The case will seek changes in the design of the project's spillway gates, the newspaper quoted an unnamed senior government official as saying.
"The final decision to move the ICA against the determination of the neutral expert is likely by next week," the official said.
Attorney General Malik Qayyum, who attended yesterday's meeting, said legal experts and government officials were examining "different possibilities on challenging the neutral expert's decision" on the spillway gates. A decision on this was likely by next week, he said.
Qayyum said "it seemed that Pakistan would move the ICA as it is a very sensitive issue".
Dear editor: Pls don't ignore this item as being national. I request to carry this as a bottom anchor on the front with photo of Nano car. There is huge excitement among the people about this car. |
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