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Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan on the Tulbal Navigation Project on river Jhelum in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled to be held at New Delhi on June 28-29, 2005 as a part of the composite dialogue which is currently underway. An eight member Pakistan delegation led by Mr. Asfaq Mahmood, Secretary (Water & Power) is arriving at New Delhi today. The Indian delegation is being led by Shri J. Hari Narayan, Secretary (Water Resources). The last round of talks on this Project were held at Islamabad in July, 2004 wherein it was agreed that the discussions would continue at the next round of the dialogue process with a view to finding a solution to the issue consistent with the provisions of the Treaty.
The Tulbal Navigation Project comprises a navigation lock cum control structure on the river Jhelum downstream of Wullar Lake near Ningli village upstream of Sopore Town. The Project envisages regulating the releases from natural storage of the Wullar lake so as to maintain a minimum draft of 1.37 m (4.5 ft.) in the river Jhelum below the Lake up to Baramulla in order to ensure round the year navigation from Anantnag – Srinagar – Baramulla. The continuing suspension of the Project work is causing grave harm to the interests of the people of J&K and also depriving the people of Pakistan from significant benefits which will be accruing to them by way of additional power generation and irrigation benefits during the lean winter months through regulated releases from the Project.
RJ/BY/NSR
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