In what can erupt a new controversy over sharing of river waters, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has made it clear in loud terms that no permission will be given by his government for any 'proposal' of the Centre to build a canal for the purpose of diverting surplus water to Punjab and other states.
His assertion on this has come shortly after Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared in MP's Panchmarhi that Centre will build a canal to 'redirect' surplus water from Indus, Jhelum and Chenab (all 3 rivers flowing in J&K) to Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Union Home Minister had given a context to this proposal that since Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan is in abeyance post Pahalgam attack in April this year, the water can be 'diverted' to other states.
However, in no mood to accept this, Omar Abdullah as strongly opposed it contending "we have to first priortize our own (J&K's) needs since UT is already facing scarcity of water ....", he said adding "“Why should I send water to Punjab?” .....reminding that Punjab already has three rivers under the Indus Waters Treaty. He also invoked the decades-old Shahpur Kandi barrage dispute, with Punjab and asked, "Did they give us water?", he said while insisting J&K won’t give up more water.
J&K Chief Minister asserted that the water would be first used to meet the needs of J&K besides the work on Tulbul barrage should resume soon. " Jammu is facing a drought. Here water taps have run dry. Why should I send water to Punjab, which already has three rivers under the Indus Water Treaty? We were desperate for water and for the completion of the Ujh Multi-Purpose project and Shahpur Kandi barrage. For years, they literally made us cry. After a protracted fight, we could somehow finish the Shahpur Kandi project.
For the time being, this water belongs to us and we will use it to meet our needs, he explained in detail while speaking over the issue. He made it clear apart from Tulbul project, the priority of the government would be to pump waters from river Chenab to Akhnoor so that it could be put in use in Jammu city where water scarcity remains a frequent issue.
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