ISLAMABAD, Oct 5: India has finally proposed to Pakistan two sets of dates in October for an inspection tour of the contentious Baglihar hydro-power plant being constructed on the Chenab river in the Occupied Kashmir, Dawn has learnt through reliable diplomatic sources.

“One set of the proposed dates fall in mid October, from 16 to 19, and the other at the end of the month,” these sources said.

The dates were communicated to Islamabad through diplomatic channels about a week back.

The communication came just ahead of the expiry of the notice period Pakistan gave to India to fix dates for an inspection tour of the Baglihar hydro plant and to stop work at the project site until the dispute was resolved.

Pakistan had set Sept 30 as the deadline, making it clear to India that if it failed to respond by then it would approach the World Bank for appointment of neutral experts to resolve the dispute.

The bilateral water-sharing Indus Waters Treaty gives both the countries the third party option in case of a deadlock over any issue. Article IX of the treaty provides for settling disputes through neutral experts or arbitration if they cannot be resolved between the two commissioners.

World Bank brokered the treaty and also stands as its guarantor. Under the treaty either of the two parties can seek the World Bank intervention.

Pakistan Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Jamaat Ali Shah, who has already been informed about the proposed dates, is expected to give confirmation to the Indian side in the next couple of days.

Once the dates are finalized, the Commissioner will lead a team of Pakistani technical experts to conduct the tour of the Baglihar hydroelectric plant being constructed by India.

At the heart of the dispute is the design of India’s Baglihar project, which, according to Pakistan’s case against it, provides for submerged gated spillways, and therefore Indian control over Pakistani waters, in breach of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty.

These spillways would allow India to increase the storage capacity far beyond what is allowed to India under the treaty. Pakistan’s main concern is that the structure would provide India the capability to manipulate flow of water to Pakistan’s disadvantage. One serious consequence is that it would arm India with the capability to cause acute water shortages in Pakistan. Technical experts warn it could deprive Pakistan of up to 8,000 cusecs of water per day.

India has been dragging its feet over the Baglihar issue since May 1999 when Pakistan first objected to its design. It has postponed almost half a dozen times inspection tours of the Baglihar site requested by Pakistan.