‘Will generate electricity, overcome power shortage’
Tourism has started picking up after snowfall
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Jan 9: Jammu and Kashmir Government has taken up with the Central Government the construction of two projects over rivers Jhelum and Chenab following scrapping of Indus Water Treat (IWT) with Pakistan which will increase power generation in the Valley and overcome water shortage in the Jammu region.
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This was disclosed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while addressing a programme in Amritsar district of Punjab today.
“We had been opposing the IWT from the very beginning as we suffered losses under the Treaty. Punjab got all rights over its three rivers. It’s good that the IWT has been scrapped and we hope steps will be taken shortly that we too can use water of our three rivers,” he said.
He said the Government has submitted two projects to the Central Government and if work on them is taken up they will immensely benefit Jammu and Kashmir. The projects include Tulbul Navigation barrage near Sopore over river Jhelum which, he said, will raise water level in Wullar and Jhelum and increase power which can be used for navigation.
“Another project pertains to feeding water from river Chenab in Akhnoor to Jammu which will overcome water shortage in the region for 20-30 years,” the Chief Minister said, adding that talks with the Centre on both the projects are on and we hope work on them will be expedited.
Further, he added, some of the power projects are full of silt which we couldn’t remove earlier. However, now taking advantage of scrapping of the IWT, the silt can be removed from the projects.
India scrapped the IWT with Pakistan in April last year following April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians including 25 tourists and a local guide were killed. Under the IWT, India was authorized to utilize water of its three rivers in Punjab while rights of three rivers in Jammu and Kashmir were given to Pakistan.
Asserting that tourism has started picking up in Jammu and Kashmir following snowfall, Omar, however, said, that he won’t go into numbers like lakhs or crores tourists visiting J&K as those who come become targets because of this.
“Our target is tourism promotion and less talks,” he said, adding the Government has been targeting Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal and many other States which were main markets of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister said he won’t say that they have achieved full success but definitely there has been increase in number of tourists after snowfall but added that real test will be the summers and hopefully the results will be good.
Asserting that there have been no positive developments in Jammu and Kashmir due to abrogation of Article 370, Omar said the Centre has weakened Jammu and Kashmir as its rights and resources have been cut.
“Even after removal of Article 370, there has been no improvement in situation including terrorism,” he said.
He also opposed the Central Government decision to change MGNREGA scheme saying the Centre has adequate resources but still it is putting burden of funds on the State Governments which is not appropriate.
The Chief Minister said the BJP wants to weaken Jammu and Kashmir by raising the demand for separate Jammu State. “First they spoiled Ladakh and now they are trying to weaken Jammu”, he added
He said it is responsibility of the Central Government to ensure protection and security to minorities. At the same time, he also voiced concern over atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh.
Omar reiterated his stand on closure of Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board’s Medical College saying this will deprive the students of Jammu and Kashmir of medical seats.
He also voiced concern over use of drugs in Jammu and Kashmir but said the Government is working at large scale to control the menace.
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