Maintaining that Tulbul navigation project in Jammu and Kashmir does not violate the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan, India on Monday made clear its determination to pursue.

Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz emphasised that the river Jhelum, on which the project is proposed to be built, is a “symbol of our civilisation” and we cannot lose the right of navigation on it.

“I made it clear to them (Pakistan) ...We want navigation in river Jhelum,” Soz told reporters while referring to his meeting with Pakistan’s Water Resources Secretary Ismail Qureshi here last week.

“I think they (Pakistan) have got the cue (that India will not budge on its position),” the minister said.
“We have accepted the (1960) Indus Water Treaty. We are not going to violate it,” Soz said, adding the Tulbul Project also did not involve violation of the agreement.

He was responding to questions about progress in the talks between the two countries on the issue after Water Resources Secretary-level talks here on August 30-31.

Pakistan has been asking India to consider abandoning the project, claiming it violates the Indus Water Treaty. India has rejected the claim, maintaining that the barrage was merely aimed at facilitating navigation.