Emphasising the need for a long-term water security plan for Jammu, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the government intends to fully utilise the current abeyance of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) to implement major water infrastructure projects for the region. The goverment is awaiting approval for two vital projects in this direction, he said.
After several BJP legislators including Sham Lal Sharma raised the issue during Question Hour in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Abdullah said while efforts are on to revive defunct tubewells and other water sources, such steps are only short-term remedies and cannot meet Jammu’s future water requirements.
“Sharma is right in saying that this is like covering a wound with a bandage,” the chief minister said, stressing that planning must in view of the next 30 to 50 years, when traditional water sources are no longer sufficient.
He recalled that during the tenure if previous National Conference and Congress coalition government when Sharma was a minister ,a proposal to supply water from river Chenab to Jammu city was initiated but could not go through due to restrictions under IWT.
The project was forwarded to Asian Development Fund ADB through Economic Reconstruction Agency ERA but approval was denied due to IWT related constraints, the Chief Minister said.
However, situation and things have changed now, with IWT currently in abeyance allowing government an opportunity to revisit and advance long pending water projects.
“Our government is closely working with Centre to take full benefit of this window”, CM Omarsaid. The CM informed the House that his government is working with Centre on two major projects-Tulbul Navigaton Barrage on Jhelum river near Sopore in north Kashmir and lifting water from river Chenab in Akhnoor to provide water to Jammu city”, he assured.
We are hopeful of getting approval for both the projects soon after which work will begin, the CM assured in the Legislative Assembly.
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