Kishanganga: Hague court halts permanent works

Permanent works above the riverbed is not allowed.

The seven-member International Court of Arbitration (ICA) has barred India from undertaking any permanent works above the riverbed level at the Gurez site of the Kishanganga hydel project dam. Pakistan had sought an interim stay on construction activities at the 330 MW project in Jammu and Kashmir.

Permanent works above the riverbed is not allowed. But India can go ahead with construction of powerhouse,tunneling works,constructing coffer dams,temporary bypass tunnel and concretisation under the riverbed for the dam, a member of the Indian delegation that went to The Hague for the hearing on the Pakistani plea late last month told The Indian Express.

The court has also ordered joint periodic inspections at the Gurez site to ensure that the interim stay order is not violated.

Story continues below this ad

The order came at the end of this week. It is likely to assure Pakistan,which decided to move the ICA in the summer of 2010. Indian government sources claimed the decision was not a setback and India has ample freedom to continue with almost the entire range of construction activities for the project other than the dam itself.

Officials,however,conceded there was a risk in going ahead. We may continue all other works at our risk,knowing well that the dam construction is still under dispute and all other construction will go waste if the final decision does not turn out to be in our favour. Definitely that risk remains, said an official.

A court in Antwerp passed the order initiating the formal process of bringing Choksi back to India. But, he still has options to challenge the order passed by the lower court.

Belgian court clears fugitive jeweller Mehul Choksi’s extradition to India

India1 hr ago

Mehul Choksi, a fugitive diamantaire wanted in India for a Rs 13,000 crore loan fraud case, has been cleared for extradition by a court in Antwerp, Belgium. The Indian government has assured that Choksi will be held in a specific jail complex and provided with basic amenities if extradited. Choksi's extradition proceedings have advanced in Belgium and he has the option to challenge the order.

View all shorts

Live Blog

PHOTOS