Thursday, June 2 2005 08:21 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Water officials of India and Pakistan yesterday (Jun 1, 2005) began talks to resolve differences on 330 MW Kishenganga Hydro-Power project being built on river Jhelum in Jammu and Kashmir.

The two-day talks of Indus Water Commissioners is being held in the backdrop of India's assertion that it was ready to consider "practical modifications and changes" in the design of the project if Pakistan substantiated its objections that it violated the provisions of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty.

The Indian side is led by Indus Water Commissioner D K Mehta while his Pakistani counterpart Jamiat Ali Shah is leading his country at the parleys, officials said.

The two officials had earlier met in Lahore on May 7-8 and decided to continue the talks.

"The parleys are being held to narrow differences," an official said.

The talks are believed to be focussed on design of the project over which Pakistan has raised its objections leading to stalling of work on for nearly two decades.

After the last round of talks, Mehta had said that India could "consider practical modification and changes to the design provided Pakistan is able to substantiate their objections".

He had dubbed Pakistani objections as "unsubstantiated" and said, "Our Design is very much within the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty."

Pakistan's main objection is over a 21 km long underground canal envisaged to be built in the project saying it violates the treaty.