Jammu And Kasmir

[Naresh]

<b><span style='color:red'>INDIA MIGHT PROPOSE EXPERT TO MONITOR BAGLIHAR FLOWS</span></b>

<b><i>* Observer will ensure dam used only for power generation
* Contractor says work on project not stopped</i></b> <!--emo&tupid--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/pakee.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pakee.gif' /><!--endemo-->

NEW DELHI: India might propose the appointment of a neutral expert on a long-term basis to monitor the controversial Baglihar dam to ensure that the stored water is not used for purposes other than energy generation and that Pakistan continues to get peak flow of water at all times, sources told Daily Times on Thursday.

<b>Sources said that although work on the project would not be stopped,</b> minor changes in the dam’s design were being considered. They said that hi-tech meters would be installed to ensure that Baglihar was not used to “steal” Pakistan’s share of water. “The gadgets will be installed and monitored by a neutral observer or officials of the World Bank, which will again furnish the guarantee that Pakistan’s share is on board,” sources added.

Sources said that modalities were yet to be settled and indications suggested that if the World Bank appointed a neutral expert, the two sides might retain his services for a long term. <b>On the other hand, <span style='font-size:12pt;line-height:100%'>the held Kashmir government and contractors of the Baglihar dam also denied a news report published by a Washington-based South Asia web daily that work on the project had been stopped. Both the authorities called the news “highly speculative” and “misleading”. <!--emo&:liar liar--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/liar.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='liar.gif' /><!--endemo-->

“We deny reports that we have been instructed to stop the work. Some unscrupulous reporter <!--emo&:liar liar--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/liar.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='liar.gif' /><!--endemo--> has contacted one of our retired employees in Utter Pradesh and tried to put words in his mouth,” an official of the project’s contractors, the Jai Prakash Industries (JPI), told Daily Times. “We were surprised over reports that work had been stopped. It sounded strange especially because there was no such word in a meeting that discussed progress on the project just a day before,” a top official in the Kashmir’s power ministry directly associated with the project, said.</span>

Power Minister MS Niaz told Daily Times that the Kashmir government had already spent Rs 27 billion on the project so it was impossible and also not feasible for the Indian government to stop its construction.</b>

He said that the state government had spent Rs 1.22 billion on land compensation, raising buildings and structures, Rs 24.63 billion on civil and hydro-mechanical works, Rs 6.18 billion on electro-mechanical works, Rs 98 million on 400 KV transmission line, Rs 68 million on consultancy charges, Rs 30 million on Nashri Bypass Road, Rs 24 million on Khileni-Pul Doda Road, Rs 30.57 million on the catchments area’s treatment and Rs 23 million on the construction of a powerhouse.

Cheers <!--emo&:beer--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cheers.gif' /><!--endemo-->