Jammu, Feb 10 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, announced on Tuesday that the government of the union territory intends to make the most of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) abeyance to execute multiple water infrastructure initiatives.

The Legislative Assembly saw BJP MLAs, including former minister Sham Lal Sharma, highlight the issues surrounding numerous inactive tubewells and other water resource projects during the Question Hour.

CM Omar Abdullah acknowledged that the short-term fixes for water issues in Jammu resemble merely putting a band-aid on a wound, as accurately pointed out by Sham Lal Sharma. He stressed the necessity for the government to devise long-term strategies that address water requirements for the next 30 to 50 years, given that traditional water sources will not be adequate for future demands.

He reflected on how, during the coalition government with the NC and Congress, when Sham Lal Sharma was a minister, a plan to provide water to Jammu city from the Chenab river could not be actualized due to the IWT.

“The proposal was forwarded to the Asian Development Fund via the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), but was turned down due to IWT restrictions,” CM Omar noted.

He informed the Assembly that with the IWT currently in abeyance, there is a chance to revisit the Chenab River water supply project for Jammu city.

“Our government is collaborating closely with the Centre to seize the full potential of the IWT abeyance,” he stated.

“We are engaged with the Centre on two key projects: the Tulbul Navigation Barrage on the Jhelum river near Sopore in north Kashmir and lifting water from the Chenab river in Akhnoor to supply Jammu city with water.

“We are optimistic about obtaining approvals for both initiatives soon, enabling us to commence work,” CM Abdullah remarked.

It is noteworthy that the IWT was signed between India and Pakistan on September 19, 1960.

The treaty granted India control over three major rivers of Punjab: the Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas, while Pakistan retained the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers flowing through Jammu and Kashmir.

India is allowed to fully utilize the waters of the rivers assigned to it, but it cannot construct dams or barrages that would obstruct the rivers assigned to Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.

Only run-of-the-river projects with limited hydropower capacity are permitted in Jammu and Kashmir.

Thus, the IWT has restricted Jammu and Kashmir from fully harnessing the potential of the Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum rivers.

Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 last year, which resulted in the deaths of 26 innocents, including 25 tourists and one local pony owner, India declared its decision to suspend the IWT, and this suspension continues to this day.