New Delhi: Pakistan’s objections to the hydro-power projects Pakal Dul, Lower Kalnai and Kiru in Jammu and Kashmir are likely to figure in the agenda at the annual meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission between March 1 and 3 in Pakistan this year.

To be held at Islamabad, this will be the 117th meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission since the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) was signed by India and Pakistan in 1960.

Article VIII (5) of the Indus Waters Treaty requires the Permanent Indus Commission to meet at least once a year, alternately in India and Pakistan. The last such meeting was held here on March 23 and 24 last year.

The Indian delegation will be led by Indian Commissioner for Indus Waters, Pradeep Kumar Saxena, and will comprise advisors from the Central Water Commission, the Central Electricity Authority, NHPC Ltd, and the Ministry of External Affairs. There would be three three female officers, a first since signing of the Treaty.

The Pakistan side will be led by its Commissioner for Indus Waters, Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah.

The agenda for the meeting is being fine tuned by the two Commissioners. Pakistan’s objections to the hydropower projects Pakal Dul (1,000 MW), Lower Kalnai (48 MW), and Kiru (624 MW) in Chenab basin in Jammu and Kashmir and few small hydroelectric projects in Ladakh are likely to be discussed during the meeting.

The Indian delegation will leave for Pakistan through Atari border on February 28 and return via the same route on March 4. “We shall be leaving on Monday,” Saxena confirmed.

Under the 1960 vintage IWT, India and Pakistan share waters of six rivers in the Indus basin. Of these, India has complete rights over three eastern rivers – Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi, while Pakistan has rights over the western rivers – Chenab, Jhelum, and Indus.

India can, however, build only run-of-the-river projects on the western rivers. Pakistan gets almost 80 per cent share of the Indus basin waters (approx 135 MAF) against India’s 33 MAF. (IANS)

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir police chief, Dilbagh Singh Friday said that the crime against women have been taken seriously.

“Attempts are being continuously made from across the border to provide oxygen to the militant groups by dropping weapons through drones and other sources,” Singh said while speaking to media during his visit to Udhampur district.

He said that the Pakistan is using narco sales for militant funding to create disturbance in Jammu and Kashmir, adding, “J&K Police has been working tirelessly with other security forces and with the support of people, the evil designs would be foiled and the peace process would further be consolidated.”

Singh at the inaugural ceremony of the women police station also said that it is the policy of the Government to provide better and separate legal support to the women.

“Crime against women have been taken seriously and to bring down any type of crime against women, the Women Police Station has been opened where the victims of crime will be dealt with by women officers and officials”, he said.

The DGP added that opening up separate Women Police Stations will provide an opportunity to the women of the respective areas to come forward more freely to report crime as they would be able to express their grievances more comfortably. “Women police stations have been opened at all range levels across Jammu and Kashmir”, the DGP informed.

Earlier he inaugurated Shoot House at SKPA, Udhampur and Women Police Station, visited the proposed site of Battalion Headquarters and also interacted with officers undergoing training at SKPA, Udhampur. He was flanked by ADGP, Jammu Mukesh Singh, ADGP (Hqrs), PHQ, M K Sinha. (UNI)

‘Regularisation policy under review in GAD’

Srinagar: As the protests by the casual laborers of the estates department continued in Jammu in support of their demands, the officials of Estates department on Friday said that the policy for regularisation of casual laborers is under review in the General Administration Department, Law department and Finance department.

In a statement issued, Assistant Director, Estates department Jammu said that the casual laborers of the department are to be regularized as per policy notified vide SRO-520 which is under review.

The demands of casual laborers of the department regarding the regularisation of their services shall be considered only after the final decision is conveyed by the general administrative department.

The statement further said that representatives of the casual laborers also agreed to call off the strike after the policy of the government with regard to their regularisation was conveyed to them.

By: Nadeem Nadu

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir reported 95 fresh Covid-19 cases even as there was no death due to the virus in the last 24 hours, officials said on Friday.

They said 65 of the fresh cases were reported from Jammu Division and 30 from Kashmir Division, taking the overall tally to 452817.

Giving district wise details, the officials said Srinagar reported 18 cases, Baramulla 3, Budgam 3, Pulwama 0, Kupwara 3, Anantnag 1, Bandipora 1, Ganderbal 0, Kulgam 1, Shopian 0, Jammu 27, Udhampur 0, Rajouri 2, Doda 20, Kathua 5, Samba 5, Kishtwar 0, Poonch 1, Ramban 5 and Reasi 0.

There was no death reported in the last 24 hours, they said. So far 4748 persons have succumbed to the virus—2325 in Jammu and 2423 in Kashmir.

Besides, they said, 187 Covid-19 patients—126 from Jammu and 61 from Valley— recovered during the time. So far 447074 people have recovered, leaving the active case tally at 995 — 586 in Jammu and 409 in Kashmir.

They said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 51 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials said. They also informed that 17633 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K. (GNS)

Srinagar: Amid intermittent light rainfall in Kashmir parts, the flight operations resumed completely while Srinagar-Jammu highway, the only road connecting the Valley with rest of the States, was open for vehicular movement on Friday.

Director Srinagar International Airport, Kuldeep Singh said that the flight operation resumed completely today as the visibility improved today.

Earlier, 41 flights on Wednesday and eight flights to and fro Srinagar on Thursday were cancelled due to poor visibility.

Moreover, the Srinagar-Jammu highway was open for vehicular movement today.

As per the Meteorological department, several areas of Kashmir experienced intermittent light rainfall today while the weather conditions would improve from tomorrow.

“There is no major forecast of snowfall till the end of February,” the officials in MeT said.

Pertinently, Kashmir received first major snowfall in this winter, bringing life to standstill as both the air as well as the surface traffic remained affected for two straight days. (KNO)