Three controversial hydropower projects: Pakistan raises objections to Indian plan

The Pak-India Indus Water Commissioners dialogues ended without any conclusion, as Pakistan raised solid and strong objections over three highly controversial hydropower projects planned to construct by Indian authorities on western rivers in violation of Indus Water Treaty 1960.
A ten-member Indian delegation led by Indian Commissioner for Indus Water Arunganathan arrived here. The delegation called on the Pakistani counterpart to discuss the disputed water issues. It is worth mentioning here that this meeting was the continuity of annual general meeting of both commissioners.
The reliable sources close to the latest development told Business Recorder that the Pakistani authorities pointed out strong objections over the Indian designs of three controversial hydropower projects including Rattle, Miyar and Kalnai to construct over western rivers in territory of Indian held Kashmir.
Pakistani authorities were of the view that the designs of these three controversial projects are in violation of Indus Water Treaty 1960, adding "The storage of water on run-of-river projects is absolute violation of the treaty," he maintained. "If Indian authorities did not address the Pakistani concerns over these three controversial hydropower projects, Pakistani authorities would approach the permanent Court of Arbitration (Hague) Holland for justice, "the sources added.
The controversial 48MW Kalnai Hydro Electric Project could allow India to utilise the stream flows of the Lower Kalnai River, a tributary of the Chenab River, in Kistwar district of Jammu & Kashmir. The project envisages construction of a 49 m high dam (above the deepest foundation level on the Lower Kalnai River near Dunadi village with a gross storage capacity of 1.86 Million (Mcum).
A senior official of Pakistan Indus Water Commissioners' ( PIWC) claimed that if India succeeded in construction at Kalnai, it would be able to divert the water of Chenab river and in this way, Indian authorities planned to construct D- shaped diversion tunnel on the right bank with upstream and downstream cofferdams on the Kalnai river, a tributary of river Chenab.
Water is proposed to be diverted through a Water Conductor System (WCS) of 4.56 km (including 3.96 km long Head Race Tunnel) with a surge shaft proposed at the HRT. A Power House is proposed on the left bank of Lower Kalnai River about 200 m upstream of its confluence with Chenab River.