Dr. Jitendra Singh flags Ujh Project as key for security, farmers
Synopsis
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on 25 May 2026 spotlighted the Ujh Multipurpose Project in Kathua, J&K, sharing coverage that frames the long-pending irrigation and hydropower scheme as critical for both national security and the livelihoods of border-district farmers.
Key Takeaways
Jitendra Singh shared coverage on 25 May 2026 calling the Ujh Multipurpose Project vital for national security and farmers.
The project is located in Kathua district , a border area in Jammu and Kashmir , and involves irrigation, hydropower, and flood control on the Ujh river .
The central government has examined the scheme since the early 2000s in the context of the Indus Waters Treaty framework.
Since J&K's reorganisation in 2019 , New Delhi has accelerated approvals for irrigation and hydropower projects in the Union Territory.
Key next steps include finalising the Detailed Project Report, land acquisition, and securing budgetary allocation.
Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on Monday, 25 May 2026 shared coverage highlighting the strategic and agricultural importance of the Ujh Multipurpose Project in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, underlining its dual significance for national security and the farming community of the border district.
Context
The minister shared a report from a Hindi-language daily under the headline 'Ujj Pariyojana Rashtriya Suraksha va Kisanon ke liye Aham' ('Ujh Project is Important for National Security and Farmers'), drawing attention to the proposed scheme on the Ujh river in Kathua district. The post was tagged with #Kathua and #JammuAndKashmir, signalling the minister's continued focus on infrastructure development in his home Union Territory.
Dr. Jitendra Singh represents the Udhampur constituency in Jammu and Kashmir and has consistently championed regional development projects since the UT's reorganisation in 2019.
Policy Backdrop
The Ujh Multipurpose Project is a long-proposed scheme designed to provide irrigation, generate hydropower, and control flooding by storing and utilising waters of the Ujh river in Kathua. The central government has periodically examined the project since the early 2000s as part of broader efforts to optimise the use of eastern river waters within the framework of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Since the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, New Delhi has accelerated approvals and funding for irrigation and hydropower projects across the Union Territory to boost agricultural productivity and strengthen water management near the international boundary. Projects of this nature are routinely presented by the government as serving both economic and strategic objectives in a region where river-water utilisation carries geopolitical weight.
Stakeholders and Impact
Farmers in Kathua and adjoining border districts stand to benefit most directly from the project, which promises improved irrigation access in an area where agriculture remains the primary livelihood. The scheme's hydropower component could also contribute to the Union Territory's energy security.
From a strategic standpoint, fuller utilisation of the Ujh river's waters is seen as significant given Kathua's proximity to the international border, where water-resource development intersects with national security considerations. Civil society groups and farmers' organisations in Jammu division have long advocated for expediting the project.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to the status of the project's Detailed Project Report, any pending land acquisition steps, and whether the upcoming central or Union Territory budget allocates fresh funds to advance the scheme. The minister's public amplification of the project's importance may be read as a signal of renewed political momentum behind the long-pending proposal.
With water-resource development in Jammu and Kashmir increasingly framed as both an economic imperative and a security priority, the Ujh Multipurpose Project is likely to feature prominently in the UT's infrastructure agenda in the months ahead.
Point of View
Particularly ahead of budget cycles. The framing of the Ujh Project as both an agricultural and national-security asset is a deliberate dual-register argument designed to build cross-ministerial support in New Delhi. Coming from a minister who holds the Udhampur seat and wields influence in multiple central departments, the signal is hard to dismiss. Whether it translates into expedited DPR clearance or fresh budget lines will be the real test of intent.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Ujh Multipurpose Project?
The Ujh Multipurpose Project is a proposed irrigation, hydropower, and flood-control scheme on the Ujh river in Kathua district, Jammu and Kashmir, designed to store and utilise eastern river waters under the Indus Waters Treaty framework.
Why is the Ujh Project important for national security?
Kathua is a border district close to the international boundary, and fuller utilisation of the Ujh river's waters is seen as strategically significant in a region where water-resource development intersects with security considerations.
What did Dr. Jitendra Singh say about the Ujh Project?
On 25 May 2026, Dr. Jitendra Singh shared a Hindi-language newspaper report headlined 'Ujh Project is Important for National Security and Farmers', highlighting the scheme's dual importance for Kathua's farming community and India's border security.
What is the current status of the Ujh Multipurpose Project?
The project has been under central government examination since the early 2000s. Key milestones pending include finalisation of the Detailed Project Report, land acquisition, and a formal budgetary allocation from the central or UT government.
How does the Ujh Project benefit Kathua farmers?
The project promises improved irrigation access for farmers in Kathua and adjoining border districts of Jammu division, where agriculture is the primary livelihood and dependable water supply has long been a challenge.
