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Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Bansal slams Chouhan for remarks on Indus Waters Treaty
Former union minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has criticised Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for his statements that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had done injustice to India by signing the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan. In a statement, Bansal said, 'This only betrays his utter ignorance of historical facts.' Bansal, who previously held the Union water resources portfolio, said that suspending the treaty in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack is an entirely different matter from the context in which it was signed in 1960. He explained that post-Partition, the canal system built by the British primarily lay in Pakistan, while India controlled the headworks. A temporary agreement in 1947 was followed by India withholding water in 1948, but limited storage capacity and flood risks required a long-term resolution. 'Internationally, the upper riparian states do not have any complete and absolute right over international river waters. The treaty was signed with Pakistan under World Bank mediation to ensure optimal utilisation of the Indus basin,' he said. 'While India has complete control over the water of Eastern rivers Ravi, Beas and Satluj, we also have non-consumptive rights over the water of western rivers Indus, Chenab, and Jhelum for hydro-power generation, navigation and fishing purposes,' Bansal added. He stated that Salal, Baglihar and Kishanganga Dams as examples of projects executed before 2014. Bansal added that while Nehru built projects like Bhakra Dam, surplus water still flows to Pakistan due to inadequate storage. He also criticised the Modi government for failing to curb China's dam construction on the Brahmaputra, calling it a serious concern for India.
Hindustan Times
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Former MP Bansal flays BJP's ‘slum-free' initiative
May 08, 2025 08:56 AM IST Former Chandigarh MP Pawan Kumar Bansal termed the claim of UT administration to make Chandigarh a slum free city as dubious and accused it of choosing questionable 'anti-people means' to achieve the objective. Bansal said that under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM), the UPA government had formulated the Small Flats Scheme in 2006 to construct 25,728 small flats in Chandigarh to rehabilitate all the families living in 18 slum colonies in the city. Of those 12,224 flats were constructed by 2014 and Chandigarh was adjudged the best city for planned habitat for urban poor. Dr Joan Cloas, executive director of the UN-HABITAT, on his visit to Chandigarh in 2011 also lauded the scheme to make Chandigarh the first slum free city in the country. Former Chandigarh MP Pawan Kumar Bansal. (File) Bansal further said that earlier over 21,600 one-room tenements and sites services had been allotted as a rehabilitation measure before clearing slums. Also, about 25,000 LIG, MIG and HIG flats were constructed by the Chandigarh Housing Board, besides allotment of land to a number of Cooperative Group Housing Societies. However, the succeeding NDA government has reversed the entire process. The Small Flat Scheme was discontinued and replaced by PM Awas Yojna. In the last eleven years only about 5,000 flats have been added at an enhanced monthly rent of ₹ 3,000. Cong leaders laud defence forces Chief spokesperson of Chandigarh Congress Rajiv Sharma, praising the defence forces, said people of Chandigarh salute the commendable strategic planning and professionalism of highest order shown by the forces. President of Chandigarh Congress HS Lucky appealed to the people to stand with the defence forces.
