The Hindu : J&K Council resolution wants review of Indus accord

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 04, 2003

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J&K Council resolution wants review of Indus accord

By Shujaat Bukhari

JAMMU MARCH. 3. Much to the embarrassment of the coalition Government, the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council today passed a resolution asking the Union Government to review the Indus Water Treaty with a view to safeguarding the interests of the State.

Moved by the National Conference member Depinder Kaur, the resolution was seconded by Ram Paul of the same party. Speaking on the resolution, the NC members said the State was going through a huge loss on account of the IWT as the rights over the waters of the three rivers of the State — Jhelum, Indus and Chenab — had been given to Pakistan.

"We cannot store the water and even for a small construction we have to seek permission from Pakistan," said Mohammad Yousuf Taing, another NC member vociferously pleading for compensation to the State on this account. "The losses are running into thousands of crores for the last 40 years and our power generation has also been affected," he said referring to Pakistan's objection to the Wullar barrage and the Baghliar projects. The State Government had submitted its protest note even at the time of signing the treaty between India and Pakistan in 1960.

The Minister for Irrigation and PHE, Qazi Mohammad Afzal, in a written reply said, "In view of the treaty, the storage schemes cannot be constructed on the main rivers. As such generation of power is considerably reduced during the winter months when the flow of water in the rivers decreases. A limited amount of poundage of water is permitted for the river power projects." He admitted that the irrigation sector had also been affected due to the treaty. The total cost and benefits of the IWT had to be calculated in terms of the benefits flowing to the entire country and a restricted view cannot be taken, he added.

Even as the Minister pleaded that the resolution be withdrawn, the NC members pressed for it, following which the resolution was put to vote. Since the NC still enjoys a majority in the 30-member House, it was passed. .

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