‘Water solution in sight’

a stalemate after which Pakistan had threatened to go to the World Bank, who brokered the Indus Water Treaty between the two countries. The treaty decides the quantity and the formula of water-sharing from the six rivers flowing between the two countries.

After today’s meeting, the two sides claimed that it was a ‘‘movement forward’’. ‘‘We are very close to a solution,’’ said Water Resources Secretary V.K. Duggal after a day-long meeting.

Though both sides refused to disclose the exact ‘‘way forward’’, they seemed confident that they had found a way to address concerns of Pakistan. ‘‘We have covered sufficient ground,’’ said Pakistan’s water and power secretary Ashfaq Mehmood, adding ‘‘it is a win-win situation.’’

Both sides said they had discussed ways and means to resolve technical concerns relating to the project and shared their assessment on the issue. They stressed that this time the talks were held in a very ‘‘cordial and friendly manner’’.

Pakistan had raised objections to the design of the project, saying that it would affect the flow downstream, which India strongly denies. Being built in the Doda district, the 450 MW plant is expected to be completed by 2005.

Last January, a team from Pakistan visited the site in Jammu and Kashmir after the World Bank threat. India has maintained that the issue can be sorted out bilaterally. There was another commissioner-level meeting in January this year, which could not break much ground.

Under the treaty, India has rights over Ravi, Sutlej and Beas while Pakistan has riparian rights over Chenab, Jhelum and Indus.