WB yet to deliver Baglihar verdict

NEW DELHI—A neutral expert appointed by the World Bank on the Baglihar hydroelectric plant on river Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir has not delivered its final decision, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
India has, however, placed its views effectively before the expert by deputing eminent legal and technical experts in the matter, Minister of State for Water Resources Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav said in a written reply.
He said the project is going ahead, keeping appropriately in view the process before the World Bank-appointed Expert so far and his delivering a final decision in the coming months.
On whether some convergence of views have emerged between India and Pakistan Water Resources Secretaries, Yadav said on Tulbul Navigation Project, talks were held at Islamabad as part of Composite Dialogue and the two sides exchanged views and had better understanding on each other’s views.
Both sides had reaffirmed commitment to the Indus Water Treaty 1960 and agreed to continue discussions during the next round of Composite Dialogue with a view to resolve the issue in accordance with the provisions of the Treaty, he said.—Agencies