The water and power generating dispute between J&K and Punjab states is thirty years old and has been hanging fire ever since. The Indus Award gave three rivers to India for utilization of its water for irrigation as well as power generating purposes. Ravi flows partly in J&K and partly in Punjab territory. As such both claim its waters. Without going into the details of the dispute, something that this paper has been reporting often in the past, the latest position of the case is that in the aftermath of the Supreme Court giving a verdict against the Government of Punjab that its Assembly resolution of 2004 was illegal, Punjab Government changed its stance and declared that it was not at all in a position to pay the estimated compensation of Rs. 8000 crore to J&K Government for denying her the water of Ravi for over 30 years.
A stalemate ensued after the Punjab Government reacted to the decision of the Supreme Court. Previously, the Central Government had intervened in the dispute and tired to find a solution to the tangle. That hope evaporated with Punjab Government bluntly refusing to make any payment full or partial of the estimated cost of compensation to J&K Government. It seemed that they were adopting no return attitude. The point is that the J&K Government is very right in making a legitimate claim of Rs.8000 crore by way of compensation for loss of the quantum of water of Ravi and not providing electricity as desired. Punjab Government has flatly refused to have the ability of paying this hefty amount. Alternatively it has agreed that in case the J&K Government drops it claim for compensation, it would offer two things: one was that it would offer 1100 cusecs of water from Ravi for supply to a canal that would carry the water to the Kandi areas of Kathua and Samba districts, and would construct the power generating plant at Shahpur Kandi. But this deal depends on the primary presumption that Jammu and Kashmir drops the claim to eight thousand crore rupees compensation claim.
It appears that the ball is in the court of J&K State. It is true that eight thousand crore rupees is a big sum and our State could utilise this amount in big developmental project. But since the Central Government is pressing for a compromise formula, we think that the State Government should positively consider the options offered by the Punjab Government. The crucial point is that the population of Kandi area has been waiting since last thirty years to see their fields and farms provided irrigation water to help them produce good crops. Their aspirations are precious and should not be treated lightly. The Punjab Government has provided for the construction of the canal and the power house in its budget as well which indicates that it believes the J&K Government would favourably consider the offer and drop the claim of compensation.
Looking at the history of the issue and the pros and cons of the case in the backdrop of the verdict of the Supreme Court and also Punjab Government’s inability of paying the hefty compensation, the wise thing would be to accede to the suggestion of the Union Government that J&K drop the claim and accept the alternatives of the Punjab Government. The important aspect is of providing water for irrigation to the Kandi area. The ultimate gain from abandoning the claim for compensation and accepting the alternative of canal and water besides power is a very beneficial bargain. Kandi area of two and more districts has great potential of producing bumper crops once water for irrigation is made available. We must think of long term gains and not rest content with only short term benefits. Apart from that we have to understand that Punjab is our next door neighbour and we cannot have uneven relations with it. Punjab is called the granary of India and we have multi-faceted relations with that State. It is important that we maintain cordial relations with Punjab. Our connection with the rest of the country is through Punjab. Besides water we shall also be getting electricity which is of crucial importance to both of these districts as they are embarking on industrial voyage.
Another important consideration is that the surplus water of Ravi that J&K should have been utilising but is not, goes waste because it is flowing to Pakistan and Pakistan has no right to it. By accepting the offer of Punjab, we shall be utilising the water within our State, making Kandi all green and opening a prospect for our farmers to become prosperous.
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