Pakistan Sunday sought changes in the design of the Nimmo-Bazgo hydropower project being built by India in Jammu and Kashmir even as the two sides agreed to use telemetry and satellite systems to monitor water flow and consumption in shared rivers.
Islamabad registered its concerns over the Nimmo-Bazgo plant, to be built in Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir,during the first day of three-day talks here between the Indus Waters Commissions of the two countries.
Indus Waters Commissioner Jamaat Ali Shah told reporters after the seven-hour meeting that Pakistan had expressed its concerns about a possible reduction of water supply in the Indus river following the construction of the Nimmo-Bazgo project.
"We have also asked for a change of its design," he said.
G Ranganathan, who is heading the nine-member Indian delegation, briefed Shah about the Nimmo-Bazgo project and handed him over its design.
Ranganathan said: "Pakistan has conveyed its concerns to us and we will find out how to remove them."
The two sides agreed to monitor downstream water flow, level and consumption in rivers running through both countries by using telemetry and satellite systems.
"We have decided that water level, flow and
consumption in rivers will be monitored through telemetry and satellite systems from now on and engineers of both sides will discuss the matter," Shah said.
Asked about the success of the talks, Shah said: "We are not holding political negotiations which have immediate results."
Ranganathan also said there was a misconception that the Indus Waters Treaty was not being implemented by India.
"My country is not violating the treaty and the mechanism under its provisions is fully being followed," he said and added that India's proposed Chutak hydropower project is also on the agenda for the meeting.