Srinagar: In what could be termed as a major setback to Pakistan, the Court of Arbitration (CoA) constituted under the provisions of Indus Waters Treaty 1960, according to an Indian minister has allowed India to go ahead with construction of controversial Kishanganga Hydro Power Project in Indian administered Kashmir.
The Court of Arbitration (CoA) is a dispute resolution mechanism available under the Indus Waters Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1960.
“As per CoA orders, which were issued on September 23, 2011 for interim measures regarding construction of Kishanganga Hydro Power Project in Kashmir, it is open to India to continue with all works relating to the project, which include the sub-surface foundation of the dam but not the construction of any permanent works on or above the Kishanganga/Neelum river bed that may inhibit the restoration of the full flow of the river to its natural channel,” Indian Minister of State for Power K C Venugopal told parliament’s lower upper (Lok Sabha) in a written reply today.
He said construction of Head Race Tunnel (HRT) started and 3752m and 718m HRT excavation with Drill and Blast Method (DBM) and Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) respectively has been completed.
“The construction of Power House and construction of diversion tunnel in progress and 94% lining has been completed. The construction of temporary coffer dam to permit operation of diversion tunnel and construction of HRT intake structure, surge Shaft and pressure shaft is also complete,” added the minister.
A high-level team of Court of Arbitration along with experts from India and Pakistan twice visited the 330-MW Kishanganga hydropower and storage project being built in Bandipora district of north Kashmir.
The Kishanganga hydropower project is being built on Kishanganga river, which flows into Pakistan, and was objected to by Islamabad claiming the project violates the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) reached between the two countries. The project is likely to be completed in February 2014.
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