Jammu, Feb 10: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said the Jammu and Kashmir government is working with the Centre on crucial water supply projects including the Tulbul Navigation Barrage at Sopore and a proposal to pump water from the Chenab River at Akhnoor to meet Jammu’s future needs, in light of recent developments concerning the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
The Chief Minister made these remarks while intervening during supplementary questions raised by several MLAs in the Legislative Assembly.
“I have said this before in the House and I have said it through the press and I will repeat it again. If we have to ensure water availability for the next 30 to 40 years for Jammu, then we must look at new and sustainable solutions,” asserted the Chief Minister.
He recalled that during our previous regime, the intention was to bring water from the Chenab at Akhnoor to Jammu. However, the proposal could not move forward due to constraints arising from the Indus Waters Treaty.
“We had submitted this proposal to the Asian Development Bank under the ERA programme but it was not agreed to because of restrictions linked to the Indus Waters Treaty,” he informed the House.
He added that with the Indus Waters Treaty currently in abeyance, the government is now actively working with the Government of India on two major initiatives.
“One is the Tulbul Navigation Barrage on the Jhelum at Sopore and the other is pumping water from the Chenab at Akhnoor to Jammu,” said the Chief Minister.
The Chief Minister expressed hope that work on these schemes would begin at the earliest. “We are working on both of these and I hope that work will start as soon as possible,” he added.
Emphasising the need for long-term planning, the Chief Minister said efforts would also continue to revive the defunct wells, reform existing schemes and install new tube wells.
“We will have to think about the next 30, 40, or even 50 years for Jammu. With traditional water supply schemes alone, we will not be able to meet the growing demand,” he added.
Earlier, replying to a main question raised by Legislator Arvind Gupta on behalf of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Health Minister, Sakeena Itoo informed the House that a DPR has been formulated for permanent restoration of 600 mm and 500 mm dia Sitllee – Manda rising mains amounting Rs. 95.97 lakh and submitted to Deputy Commissioner, Jammu for release of funds under SDRF/DMRRR/available District resources.
The Minister said that a proposal amounting Rs. 9215.94 lakh has also been submitted by the department to Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction and Finance Department for development of infrastructure damaged during the recent flash floods including 600 mm and 500 mm dia Sitllee – Manda rising mains, adding that the release of funds is still awaited.
She also informed that Tube Well at Women Polytechnic College, Jammu and Tube Well at front side of Forest Office near Kamdhenu Flats Jammu have been taken up under AMRUT-2.0. She added that various works have been taken up for improvement of water supply in Jammu West Constituency.
The Minister also informed that the matter regarding redevelopment/restoration of the defunct Tubewell in Jammu West is under active consideration. It is proposed to be taken up by the Jal Shakti department under District CAPEX Budget during the next financial year 2026-27, she added.
Legislators Sham Lal Sharma and Vikram Singh Randhawa raised supplementary questions.
