JK Govt pursuing compensation for IWT losses,transfer of Dulhasti

Jammu, March 27 (Scoop News) –    The government has favoured the resolution moved by CPI (M) legislator M. Y. Tarigami regarding compensation to the State on account of the losses incurred to it due to Indus water Treaty (IWT). However, the resolution could not come up though listed for the business as the Dy. Speaker adjourned the House.

In a written reply, the government spelt out that due to interdomanian agreement of 1948 between India and Pakistan the water of Indus, Jhelum & Chenab was allocated to Pakistan except a limited use to the State of J&K for irrigation purposes to the extent of creating irrigation potential of 9.12 lacs acres without storage and 13.43 lace acres with storage up to 0.5 MAF and the water of Ravi, Beas & Satluj allocated to India with limited use to Pakistan.

Admitting that in order to compensate the State due to fallout of interdomanian agreement of 1948, the northern zonal council in 1955 recommended allocation of 0.65 MAF as a share of Ravi waters to the State over and above the pre partition allocation of 0.04 MAF, the government has acknowledged huge losses on irrigation and energy fronts to the State under the treaty. Furthermore, Punjab not fulfilling its commitments under the bilateral agreement of 1979 caused a loss of Rs 8650 crore to Jammu and Kashmir.

Due to restricted hydro-electric generation on western rivers,  the state is also witnessing huge energy losses and  despite having potential of 20000 MW,s of power generation, it could harness only 2460 MW,s so far, the government said in its reply and agreed to Tarigami,s  resolution for impressing upon the government of India to compensate losses due to IWT to the state .

Divulging on the initiatives of the state government for safeguarding interests of the state, the minister incharge  in the reply said  that  in North zonal Council Standing Committee the Jammu & Kashmir state has demanded allocation of 2.0 MAF water for Ravi river to augment irrigation in the state till award of full compensation to the state, besides a central  assistance of Rupees  5000 crore under irrigation sector. Efforts are to be redoubled  to clear the Tulbul barrage project  on Wular lake from Government of Pakistan under IWT, which can add a potential of 1000 MW on Jhelum Basin, disclosed the minister.

The state would continue to pursue the transfer of Dulhasti power project to the state in light of Rangarajan Committee recommendations and also enhancement of free power quota from 12% to 25 % to the state from NHPC said the government in its reply.

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