Tuesday, May 17 2005 08:07 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: Pakistan yesterday (May 16, 2005) alleged India has violated the Indus Water Treaty in building the Wullar Barrage, Kishenganga projects and the Baglihar dam on which the World Bank has appointed a neutral expert to look into the differences between the two countries.

The charges were made by Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Abbas Jilani, who claimed the design of the Wullar Barrage, which India is building on the river Jhelum, was in "clear violation" of the treaty.

He was reacting to assertion by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that India did not commit any violation of the Treaty, and said the issue was taken up with the Indian Government and as the result of ensuing discussions, the work on the day was suspended.

Jilani also alleged the Kishanganga project, planned to be built by India over Jhelum River too "falls in the same category" as its design is "not in conformity" with the Indus Water Treaty.

He said another round of talks on the controversial project is going to be held by the end of the month or beginning of the next month.

He said India has agreed to resolve this issue in a time-bound fashion with July 15 as the deadline for determination whether the questions posed by Pakistan are categorized as issues or differences. After this, the Indus Water Commissioners can ask their respective Governments to intervene.

Similarly, Baglihar hydropower project in Jammu and Kashmir over the Chenab river was another "violation" of the Indus Water Treaty, he claimed.