Pak media reports on Miyar project incorrect, work on: India

India today dismissed reports in Pakistani media that it has agreed to halt work on Miyar hydroelectric project at the neighbouring country's request and termed them as "factually incorrect".

"Media reports on India agreeing to halt Miyar project at Pakistan's request are factually incorrect. India never agreed to halt the project(sic)," The High Commission of India in Islamabad tweeted late last night after the meeting of Permanent Indus Commission in the Pakistani capital.

Rubbishing the reports, government sources said there is "not even an iota of change" in India's position in connection with the 120 MW-capacity Miyar project, located in Himachal Pradesh's Lahaul Spiti district.
 

They said India has also not agreed to review design of Lower Kalnai hydropower project (48 MW), being built in Jammu and Kashmir, as reported by the media in the neighbouring country.

"What has appeared in Pakistani media is distortion. India's position on the projects remains the same as it was before going to the meeting," a top official said.

The Indian delegation for the two-day meeting, which concluded yesterday, was led by Indus Water Commissioner P K Saxena while the Pakistani delegation was headed by Mirza Asif Saeed Baig.

After the meeting, Pakistan's Ministry of Water and Power had said in a statement that the discussions were held on India's proposed Miyar, Lower Kalnai and Pakal Dul hydropower projects as well as on matters pertaining to exchange of data and conducting tours and meetings of the Indus commission.

"On (the) Miyar hydropower project, India has withdrawn its design after Pakistan had made objections on it in the previous meetings of the commission," the statement claimed.

It said the "Indian side also agreed to a tour of inspection for Pakistan's Indus Commission which is expected to be arranged before August 2017."

Besides Miyar and Lower Kalnai, Pakistan has been flagging concerns over designs of India's Pakal Dul (1000 MW), Ratle (850 MW) and Kishanganga (330 MW) hydropower projects, being built or planned in the Indus river basin, contending these violate the treaty.