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Business Standard
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
J&K CM pushes for 2 key projects as IWT pause opens door for water storage
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, an open critic of the 1960 Indus-Water Treaty, is hopeful that the central government will give a go-ahead for the completion of the Tulbul Navigation project in Kashmir and the diversion of Chenab River water to alleviate Jammu's water scarcity. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror strike on April 22 that killed 26 people, mainly tourists, the Centre announced a slew of measures against Pakistan for supporting terror groups and waging a proxy war against India. It included keeping the 1960 Indus-Water Treaty in abeyance. According to the treaty, India has unrestricted access to the waters of the eastern rivers -- Sutlej, Beas and Ravi -- amounting to around 33 million acre-feet (MAF) annually, while Pakistan receives the majority of the water from the western rivers -- the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab --totalling around 135 MAF annually. In an interview to PTI recently, Chief Minister Abdullah said that while the benefits of a full reversal of the IWT will take time, his government is focusing on medium-term projects that can begin immediately. Abdullah has been vociferously opposing the treaty since he was the Minister of State of External Affairs, saying that the 1960 agreement was the "most unfair document" ever imposed on the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He described the IWT as a document that "essentially denied Jammu and Kashmir the opportunity to store water" and forced all power projects to be "run of the river". "We can't suddenly build power projects and start storing water," Abdullah said and acknowledged the long-term nature of such undertakings. "It will take time before the benefits of the Indus water treaty start flowing to us." However, he highlighted two specific projects that he believes need to be taken up "immediately" -- which include the revival of the Tulbul navigation barrage in Sopore. This project, he explained, would not only enable the use of the Jhelum River for navigation but also "enable us to generate more electricity" in winter for all our downstream power projects, including Lower Jhelum and Uri hydroelectric projects. The suggestion from the Jammu and Kashmir government to the Centre was to build drop gates at the Tulbul Navigation Project, also known as Wullar Barrage, located on the boundary of Bandipora and Sopore, so that the water level in the Jhelum River could be managed properly. Work on the project was expedited by India following the Uri terror attack in 2016. This initiative was initially suspended in 1987 due to Pakistani objections. Despite India's efforts to resolve the issue, Pakistan declined to engage in discussions during five meetings of the Permanent Indus Commission held between 2017 and 2022. The barrage would also be especially effective in reducing the flow of water during the flood season in the Union territory. The Tulbul project was conceived in 1986 so as to enable year-round flow of water in the Wular Lake for commercial and tourism purposes, which in turn would generate employment in Kashmir. India opposed the Pakistani stand against the barrage, saying that construction of the Tulbul does not violate the treaty since the project is not a storage facility for either drinking water or irrigation but falls into the category of a regulating structure on water flows for non-consumptive use. The second project is a vital water-lifting scheme from Akhnoor to provide a sustainable source of water for Jammu city, which is facing "increasing water shortages". The chief minister said that Chenab is an ideal source, and this project could "feed Jammu for the next two to three decades". When asked if a formal proposal had been submitted to the Centre, the chief minister confirmed that "we have already had the conversation" and added that a senior advisor to the Prime Minister had recently visited the region to review these specific projects linked to the IWT. The advisor's visit, Abdullah noted, signifies that the Centre may give its nod for the projects to move forward. The second short-term suggestion was about lifting water from the Chenab River to ensure a better supply for people in Jammu, the six-month winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu city lies on the banks of the Tawi river, which divides the old city on its eastern bank from the new on the west. The Tawi flows from Jammu and Kashmir into Pakistani Punjab, eventually merging with the Chenab River. The JK government has sought approval to engage an international funding agency for the Chenab Water Supply Scheme, aimed at lifting drinking water from the river and supplying it in different areas of the Jammu district to meet the rising water requirements of the town. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hans India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Omar vs Mehbooba - How Kashmir's dynasts flip on India and Pakistan
An amusing side effect of Operation Sindoor is being felt in Kashmir, where two prominent political parties are trying to expose each other's allegiance to the country. The Abdullahs and the Muftis are two major dynastic families in the valley that have held political sway for most of the time in the erstwhile state, with the former being in power for a longer period. The two families are known rivals and have been vehemently fighting against each other politically for decades - between Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (from NC to Congress to founding the People's Democratic Party) and Sheikh Abdullah (National Conference); Mufti Sayeed and Farooq Abdullah; and later Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah. All five leaders have served as Chief Ministers of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir, and now NC's Omar Abdullah is the Chief Minister of the Union Territory. He won the first Assembly elections held after the abrogation of Article 370 and the revocation of statehood in August 2019. Together, the two families have ruled the state for over three decades, clearly exhibiting their political influence in the UT, especially in Kashmir. The leaders have consistently been at loggerheads, except during very brief periods - such as during the Assembly elections in 1996, the Lok Sabha polls in 1998, and the formation of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) in 2019 (a coalition of political parties seeking the restoration of Article 370 and Article 35A). Except for these moments, the families have remained political rivals. From political rhetoric to accusations of having links with terrorists and separatists, the fight has now shifted to a contest over who is more loyal to India or harbours softer sentiments for Pakistan. The latest spat, which unfolded on social media, is not merely amusing - it reflects the nature of politics that has played out in J&K, particularly in Kashmir, since 1947. Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti inadvertently revealed uncomfortable truths about each other's dynastic politics, which have alternated between pro-and anti-India and pro-and anti-Pakistan stances depending on political convenience. The public exchange broke out on May 16 between Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his predecessor, Mehbooba Mufti, on their respective X handles, after the former called for the revival of the Tulbul Navigation project following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty. Mufti accused Abdullah of adopting "provocative" measures amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. What CM Abdullah replied was not shocking in content, but rare in its bluntness for someone holding high office in Kashmir. He said: "Actually, what is unfortunate is that with your blind lust to try to score cheap publicity points and please some people sitting across the border, you refuse to acknowledge that the IWT has been one of the biggest historic betrayals of the interests of the people of J&K. I have always opposed this treaty & I will continue to do so." The phrase "please some people sitting across the border" was clearly a reference to Pakistan. Not one to remain silent, Mufti shot back with a stinging post that brought up historical controversies about the NC's political leanings. She wrote: "Time will reveal who seeks to appease whom. However, it's worth recalling that your esteemed grandfather Sheikh Sahab once advocated for accession to Pakistan for over two decades after losing power. But post being reinstated as Chief Minister, he suddenly reversed his stance by aligning with India." Although she accused the NC of shifting loyalties for political gain, her own and her party's stances have also changed dramatically over time. She has openly supported separatists, visited the families of terrorists, and repeatedly urged the Indian government to initiate dialogue with Pakistan. Her father, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, had once accused Omar Abdullah's father, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, of having links with the terrorist group Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) in the 1980s. Sayeed himself was accused of orchestrating attacks in his home district, Anantnag, against minority Kashmiri Pandits in 1986, soon after the purported desecration of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on February 3, 1986, and the subsequent reopening of the Ram Janmabhoomi temple in Ayodhya. Mufti Sayeed went on to become Union Home Minister in 1989, during which time Kashmir witnessed some of the worst terrorist violence targeting Hindus, and also the kidnapping of his daughter. At the time, Farooq Abdullah was the Chief Minister. Several terrorists were released from jail, an act widely seen as a sign of weakness on the part of the Indian government. The contrasting reactions of the Muftis and Abdullahs were again visible after the abrogation of Article 370, when both warned Delhi of serious consequences from Pakistan and China. Their apparent soft stance toward Pakistan continues. Even after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, both NC and PDP reiterated the need for dialogue with the neighbouring country. Mehbooba Mufti went a step further by criticising the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and saying it should not have happened. Operation Sindoor has altered the India-Pakistan dynamic, and CM Omar Abdullah now supports suspending the IWT, advocating for new power projects in the Union Territory. However, Mehbooba Mufti, whose party won only three seats in the 2024 Assembly elections, has expressed concern over Delhi's hardline position. While the two families continue their public feud, long-hidden facts are beginning to surface. It has taken over three decades and Operation Sindoor for the Abdullahs and Muftis to reveal some uncomfortable truths. A lot remains buried in the dark corners of Kashmir's politics and violence. If only the ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits had been thoroughly investigated, the fight against Pakistan's terror networks in and outside Kashmir might have been far easier.
The Print
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
What's the Tulbul project Omar, Mehbooba are sparring over & why has it been in limbo for decades
But what is the Tulbul Navigation project all about, why was it abandoned after two years even though civil works had started and how would it have helped J&K. ThePrint explains. While Omar had put a picture of Wular Lake in North Kashmir on the social media platform 'X' and wondered if work on it would be resumed now that India has put the Indus Waters Treaty on hold, Mehbooba accused the chief minister of making 'irresponsible' and 'dangerously provocative' statements. New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his political opponent PDP's Mehbooba Mufti got into a bitter sparring Friday over the Tulbul navigation lock project, also called the Wular barrage navigation project, which was abandoned by India in 1987 following strong objection by Pakistan. Also Read: Pausing Indus Treaty might send a message to Pakistan, but India must speed up projects to reap benefits Over 4 decades old project Conceived in the early 80s, work began on the Tulbul project in 1984 on river Jhelum, at the mouth of the Wular Lake, India's largest freshwater lake near Sopore in North Kashmir. 'It envisaged building a navigation lock-cum-gated control structure below the Wular Lake near Ningli to stabilise Jhelum's water level,' said a senior government official aware about the project. Simply put, the government proposed to construct a 439 ft long and 40 ft wide barrage with a storage capacity of 0.30 million acre feet (MAF) of water. The barrage, once completed, would have regulated the water of the Wular Lake to maintain a minimum draft of 4.4 ft in the river up to Baramulla during the winter season. This minimum draft would have ensured round-the-year navigation over a 20-km stretch between Baramulla and Sopore. 'This would have opened up a round the year navigation route from Baramulla to Sopore. A section of the Baramulla-Sopore stretch becomes non navigable during winter months,' the official, who did not want to be named, added. Besides, the project would have provided water and helped in firming up power generation in downstream hydroelectric plants such as the Uri I and II hydro projects in India and Mangla and other hydro projects downstream in Pakistan during the lean season. Work started on the Tulbul project in November 1984. Civil works, including concrete piling and foundation works on the left bank, were completed when Pakistan raised the red flag. What did Pakistan object to Responding to a question in the Lok Sabha in August 2006, the then water resources minister Saifuddin Soz had said that Pakistan was objecting because of the perception 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 under the provision of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). 'The Indian side has pointed out that the structure is not a storage facility but a navigation facility as defined in the IWT 1960. Further, Wullar Lake gains natural storage and the navigation lock is merely a structure to regulate the outflow from the natural storage to facilitate adequate depth of water for navigation during the winter months from October to February,' Soz said in a written response to a question by Congress' Badiga Ramakrishna. He further said that non-consumptive use is permitted to India under the IWT. This includes control or use of water for navigation, provided these do not prejudice downstream uses of waters by Pakistan, Soz said in his response. Under the IWT, while India has the right to use water from the eastern rivers, Sutlej, Ravi and Beas, Pakistan is allowed unrestricted use of waters of the three western rivers—Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab. The treaty, however, allows India storage incidental to a barrage of up to 0.01 MAF. The government official quoted earlier said that the storage behind the Wullar barrage is estimated as 0.324 MAF, which is less than what India is allowed. The Tulbul project was taken up for discussion by the two Indus commissioners on the India and Pakistan side. But when they could not resolve the issue, the Government of India took up the matter for bilateral settlement. However, Pakistan objected to the project saying that it would stop flow of water from Jhelum into its territory. What is the project's status India agreed to Pakistan's objections and on 2 October 1987, the project was suspended and has remained stalled since then. There have been at least 13 rounds of discussion between the two countries but the issues remain unresolved. A senior government official, who was involved in the negotiation of the project with Pakistan, told ThePrint that the civil works including concrete piling and foundation works on the left bank are by and large intact. 'The project can be completed in four working seasons.' Another government source told ThePrint that Pakistan's objections stem from a deep-rooted apprehension that the navigation lock may damage its triple-canal project linking Jhelum and Chenab with Upper Bari Doab canal and that stored water might be used to deny share of water. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: IWT suspension is lawful and morally right. India isn't weaponising water, but ending charity
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tulbul tussle in Jammu & Kashmir: Omar, Mehbooba engage in war of words over navigation project
A verbal dispute erupted between Jammu and Kashmir's Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. The disagreement centered on the Tulbul Navigation project on Wular Lake. Abdullah accused Mufti of appeasing those across the border. Mufti deemed Abdullah's statements dangerously provocative. The project, halted due to Pakistan's objection, saw renewed interest. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah and former CM Mehbooba Mufti engaged in a war of words over Tulbul Navigation project on the Wular Lake in north Kashmir. The CM accused Mufti of trying to "please people across the border" while Mufti said Abdullah's assertions were "dangerously provocative".It all started on Thursday when Abdullah shared an aerial footage of Wular Lake, stating: "Now that the IWT has been 'temporarily suspended', I wonder if we will be able to resume the project.""It will give us the advantage of allowing us to use the Jhelum for navigation. It will also improve the power generation of downstream power projects, especially in winter," said Tulbul Navigation Project, popularly known as the Wular Barrage Project , was initiated in the 1980s, but work was suspended due to Pakistan's objection. The work restarted in 2010, with the then NC-Congress government, also led by Abdullah, said Article 9 of IWT permitted projects meant for non-consumptive use. In 2012, unidentified militants lobbed a grenade towards a bund of the barrage and even thrashed some of the workers at the project response to Abdullah's comments, Mufti wrote that J&K CM's comments amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan are deeply unfortunate and dangerously provocative. She said people deserve peace as much as anyone else in the country. "Weaponising something as essential and life-giving as water is not only inhumane but also risks internationalising what should remain a bilateral matter," said this Abdullah retorted, saying it's unfortunate that Mufti's "blind lust to try to score cheap publicity points and please some people sitting across the border" makes her to refuse to acknowledge that IWT has been one of the biggest "historic betrayals" of the interests of the people of J&K. Mufti then claimed that NC founder Sheikh Abdullah abandoned the struggle for plebiscite in 1975, when he was made the chief minister of J& J&K CM in response said that taking cheap shots at a person Mufti herself has called Kashmir's tallest leader is the best the PDP leader could do. Abdullah also shared some media reports in which Mufti has said that IWT was against the interest of people of J& said that Abdullah invoking IWT now is a reckless ploy to derail the ceasefire.
India.com
16-05-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Trying To Please People Across Border: Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti Trade Barbs Over Indus Waters Treaty
A war of words emerged between Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti on Friday over the Indus Valley Treaty. Abdulla hit out at Mufti, saying she is trying to "please some people sitting across the border". He firmly upheld his opposition to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), calling it the "biggest historical betrayal" of the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Abdullah asserted that challenging the "unjust treaty" should not be seen as "warmongering," but rather as an effort to rectify past mistakes. In a post on X, Abdulla maintained his opposition to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), calling it the "biggest historical betrayal" of the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "Actually what is unfortunate is that with your blind lust to try to score cheap publicity points and please some people sitting across the border, you refuse to acknowledge that the IWT has been one of the biggest historic betrayals of the interests of the people of J&K. I have always opposed this treaty and I will continue to do so. Opposing a blatantly unfair treaty is in no way, shape, size or form warmongering, it's about correcting a historic injustice that denied the people of J&K the right to use our water for ourselves," Abdullah replied to Mufti on X. Earlier, Mufti strongly criticised Omar Abdullah for advocating the revival of the Tulbul Navigation project, describing the demand as "irresponsible and dangerously provocative." She added that at a time when both countries have only recently pulled back from the edge of a full-scale war, with Jammu and Kashmir enduring the worst through the loss of innocent lives, widespread devastation, and immense suffering, such remarks are not only irresponsible but also dangerously provocative. "J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's call to revive the Tulbul Navigation Project amid ongoing tensions between India & Pakistan is deeply unfortunate. At a time when both countries have just stepped back from the brink of a full-fledged war - with Jammu and Kashmir bearing the brunt through the loss of innocent lives, widespread destruction and immense suffering such statements are not only irresponsible but also dangerously provocative," Mehbooba, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said in a post on X. 'Our people deserve peace as much as anyone else in the country,' PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti further said and warned that turning a vital resource like water into a weapon is not only inhumane but also risks internationalising an issue that should remain a strictly bilateral matter between India and Pakistan.
