Jammu, February 10 Emphasizing the need for a long-term water security plan for Jammu, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday that the government intends to fully utilize the current suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) to implement major water infrastructure projects for the region.
Following several BJP legislators, including Sham Lal Sharma, raising the issue during Question Hour in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, Abdullah said that while efforts are underway to revive defunct borewells and other water sources, such measures are only short-term solutions 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 be done with a view to the next 30 to 50 years, when traditional water sources will no longer be sufficient.
He recalled that during the tenure of a previous National Conference (NC) and Congress coalition government, when Sharma was a minister, a proposal to supply water from the Chenab to Jammu city was initiated but could not go through due to restrictions under the IWT.
The project was forwarded to the Asian Development Fund through the Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), but approval was denied due to IWT-related constraints, the chief minister said.
He said the situation has now changed with the IWT currently in suspension, allowing the government an opportunity to revisit and advance long-pending water projects.
"Our government is working closely with the Centre to take full advantage of this opportunity," he said.
The chief minister informed the House that his government is working with the Centre on two major projects – the Tulbul Navigation Barrage on the Jhelum river near Sopore in north Kashmir and lifting water from the Chenab river in Akhnoor to provide water to Jammu city.
"We are hopeful of receiving approval for both projects soon, after which work will begin," Abdullah said.
