In January 1979, an agreement was signed between the Governments of J&K and Punjab regarding Thein Dam and Power Plant Scheme on river Ravi. Utilization of the waters of the river for irrigation and power production was the main purpose of this agreement. The agreement was necessitated because the river flows through the twin territories of J&K and Punjab somewhere in Kathua district. On principle, it was a very good agreement and thousands of farmer families would have benefited if it had been completed without hassles and obstructions.
However, since the inception of the agreement various issues cropped up on either side and the completion of the project according to initial plan remained suspended. The agreement envisaged construction of Shahpur Kandi Barrage by the J&K Government, which however became a matter of dispute between the two States. J&K Government had to stop construction work of Shahpur Kandi Barrage in 2014, following promulgation of Punjab Government’s controversial legislation “Punjab Termination of Agreements Act, 2004” and pending issues related to Ranjit Sagar Dam including land compensation, employment, facilities for dam oustees and acquisition of additional submerged land. When PDP-BJP Coalition Government was formed, Mufti Sayeed took up the issue with Punjab Government and a series of talks ensued between the senior officers of two States. Some differences were ironed out and it was hoped that the project would be resumed. As the matter was under the consideration of the State Government, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti while presiding over a meeting, ordered constitution of an official panel, to be headed by Chief Secretary, to sort-out issues regarding Shahpur Kandi Barrage project with the Punjab Government.
We welcome the decision of the Chief Minister of opening the matter of resumption of work on Shahpur Kandi Barrage. This is of vital economic interests to the State and we would strongly recommend the Government to be positive when negotiations are conducted with Punjab Government. We surely want the interests of the State should not be compromised while a negotiated deal is made. The vital interest of State is that our farmers should get the water to irrigate their fields and for which they have been waiting since so many years. It should be possible for the two sides to resolve the tangle through goodwill and mutual cooperation.
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