NEW DELHI, Aug 30: Pakistan has asked India to abandon the Wullar Barrage project because it is not consistent with the Indus Basin Treaty reached between the two countries in 1960.

Talking to APP after the first day of talks between Pakistan and India on the barrage under the composite dialogue here on Thursday, Mohammad Ismail Qureshi, Secretary of the Ministry of Water and Power, said that during the talks both sides presented their positions on the issue.

Pakistan argued that it was a natural lake and man-made storage could not be built on it as it would interfere with the flow of Jhelum river which was allocated to Pakistan under the treaty. “India should abandon this project because it violates the treaty.”

Legal and technical aspects of the issue also came under discussion, the secretary said, adding that the structure proposed by India was that of a barrage and would convert the natural lake into a man-made storage.

The secretary said that previously India had presented the project as a regulating structure. Now it has taken the position that it is a navigational lock.

“The Indian project will change the availability and flow of water prejudicing Pakistan’s uses. Pakistan’s uses cannot be subordinated to pattern and quantum of flow for India’s navigational uses,” he said.

Mr Qureshi said the proposed project was a barrage and a man-made obstruction in the flow of water constituted interference with the flow and would change the volume of daily flow which was against the provisions of the treaty.

“The project violates Indus Waters Treaty, 1960 under which no storage is allowed to India on the main stem of Jhelum river. The project, which may serve a stretch of only 20 miles, is not economically viable. Alternatives and more efficient measures of transportation are available to India in this area,” the secretary added.

He said the main issue was not whether water would be impounded or not. Instead, it was a barrage and it exceeded the storage allowed incidental to a barrage, he added.

“In view of specific provisions of the treaty, the proposed project is in violation of the treaty and should not be implemented.”

A joint statement is likely to be issued on Friday.—APP