New Delhi, Aug 28: A nine-member delegation from India, headed by Water Commissioner PK Saxena reached Lahore on Tuesday via the Attari border to hold talks on Indus Water sharing row with their counterparts.

The two-day meeting, to be held on August 29-30, was scheduled as per the charter prepared by the Pakistan-India Permanent Indus Commission. The panel meets twice a year to discuss the issues related to water-sharing between the two nations.

The meeting comes in the backdrop of Islamabad petitioning the World Bank and the International Court of Justice to intervene in the two hydropower projects initiated by New Delhi on the banks of river Chenab.

Construction of both the projects -  Pakal Dul and 48 MW Lower Kalnai - is currently underway. According to Islamabad, the designs of the hydropower project would allow India excess storage of downstream water, which would be in "violation of the Indus Water Treaty, 1960".

The two-day session between Indian and Pakistani authorities will be held at the National Engineering Services of Pakistan (Nespak). According to Pakistani daily Dawn, the country's Water Commissioner Syed Mehr Ali Shah will appeal the Indian delegation to either modify the designs of the project, or make them compliant with the Indus Water Treaty.

In case New Delhi remains unwilling to consider either of the demands, Pakistan would appeal the Indian government to halt the project till the ICJ decides on the matter.

During the meeting, the two Water Commissioners will also prepare the schedule for the next meeting, along with field visits by their respective delegations for technical inspections at project sites. The panels will also decide on ways to share hydrological data of rivers which flow through both the nations.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 28, 2018 07:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).