Experts align with Omar's view, saying revival of Tulbul Navigation Project will yield socio-economic benefits for J&K
NEW DELHI: PDP chief
may have slammed
CM
over his call for reviving the
Tulbul Navigation Project
, but he has echoed India's long-term interests, with experts flagging how its implementation will yield
socio-economic benefits
for the entire UT.
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The project, also known as the
Wular Barrage
, is a navigation lock-cum-control structure located at the outlet of the country's largest freshwater lake, Wular, in J&K. It was designed to facilitate navigation on the Jhelum river during lean winter months (Oct-Feb) but was stalled by Pakistan citing the
(IWT).
As the treaty is in abeyance following the last month Pahalgam terror attack, experts, who have tracked the project's development ever since it was stalled by Pakistan in 1987, believe that its implementation can be the most immediate step for the benefit of J&K.
'It is time for India to finally break ground on the long-stalled Tulbul Navigation Project,' said Uttam Sinha, a senior fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses. He rues that for nearly four decades, the 'developmental aspirations' of the people of Kashmir were 'sacrificed at the altar of diplomatic caution' even as its implementation falls well within the treaty.
'It is a matter of interpretation.
India has long held the view that regulating depletion of naturally stored water for use of navigation, which is non-consumptive, is permissible under the IWT,' said Sinha.
Kushvinder Vohra, former Central Water Commission chairperson, echoed similar views and explained how the project will help in better flood and water management through the Wular lake, and also help in tackling drainage congestion downstream.
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'It shall help in maintaining requisite water depth in the Jhelum below the Wular lake during the lean period so that navigation can be maintained throughout the year,' said Vohra, noting that it will also have an 'incidental benefit' of increase in power production through
hydro-electric projects
.
But why was the project stalled when it falls well within the treaty? After all, non-consumptive use is permitted to India under the IWT which includes control or use of water for navigation, provided these do not prejudice downstream uses of waters by Pakistan.
Islamabad could never establish any prejudice to their downstream uses by the construction of the structure.
Pakistan during multiple secretary-level talks in the past flagged that the project structure is a barrage with a storage capacity of around 0.3 million acre feet (0.369 billion cubic metre) and that India is not permitted to construct any storage facility on the main stem of the Jhelum river.
Sinha said, 'It's a matter of interpretation..
.Now, the suspension (of the IWT) paves the way for a more assertive water strategy...Implementation of the Tulbul project is the most immediate step that can be taken.'
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