ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India will start secretary-level talks on water disputes, particularly the Wullar barrage project, here on Wednesday. Pakistan has firmed up its case to challenge another project being built by India on the Indus in violation of the 1960 Indus Water Treaty.

Sources said the Indian delegation, headed by secretary water resources Dhruv Vijai Singh, would be in Islamabad from May 11 to 14 to discuss Pakistan's objection to diversion of Jhelum river into the Wullar barrage and construction of a 439-foot long and 12-metre wide navigational lock at the barrage.

The Pakistani delegation, to be headed by water and power secretary Javed Iqbal, is expected to inform the Indian team about its decision to take up with a neutral expert the building of 45MW Nimoo-Bazgo hydroelectric plant on the main Indus river.

Ironically, India is already drawing carbon credits from the United Nations on the Nimoo-Bazgo project without carrying out a cross-boundary environmental impact assessment, because it is estimated to cause massive environmental degradation on the Pakistani side.

The two countries have so far held 13 rounds of secretary-level talks, including four under the composite dialogue, on the issue lying unresolved for more than 26 years. Between 1987 and 1998, the two sides held nine rounds of talks but made no progress, except agreeing to discuss legal and technical aspects.

India started constructing the Wullar barrage in 1985 but had to suspend work in 1987 after objections by Pakistan which moved to seek international court of arbitration or the neutral expert.