An agreement was signed between Government of Punjab and J&K State on January 10, 1979, wherein it was agreed that Shahpur Kandi barrage shall be constructed by the Punjab Government about 12 kms down stream of Ranjit Sagar Dam. But Punjab denied State’s share of electricity and water from Ranjit Sagar Dam as it had scrapped the agreement unilaterally. The losses accruing to the J&K State are estimated to the tune of Rs 11,250 crore according to a State official. Needless to say that the dam has been constructed on river Ravi at Thein in Basohli area of Kathua district.
Punjab has given a rough deal to our State and it is something least expected. The State Government had even done the preliminary work of acquiring land for the canal and had also set up 220 KV transmission line at considerable cost. All this has been turned into damp squib by the attitude of the Punjab Government. After delaying the project of building Shahpur-Kandi barrage for nearly eleven years, the Punjab Government suddenly started work on it without consulting J&K Government. The area on which the building of the barrage is proposed belongs to Kathua District. The Punjab Government had moved in heavy machinery to start the work and raise structures on about 230 kanals of land. It did not take the State Government into confidence though it had previously scrapped the agreement concluded with the State Government. As a matter of business, it was the responsibility of the Punjab Government to have prior consultations with the J&K authorities before they actually began the construction work on Shahpur -Kandi barrage,
Obviously the State Government had to take some steps to check this illegal intrusion made by the Punjab Government. Consequently the latter was informed formally that this illegal intrusion had to be removed but the Punjab dam construction authorities did not pay any heed to the warning of the State Government. The things worsened and now the State Government moved in strongly by sending a team of experts, revenue authorities, engineers and police force. The work of Punjab Government’s barrage builders has been stopped, and their heavy machinery thrown out.
The Basantpur land row should not have happened. When Punjab Assembly scrapped the agreement with J&K it should have foreseen the impact of such far reaching decisions. It almost acted unilaterally which does not help. This is a sordid row and nobody is happy with what is happening there. Punjab is a prosperous state and in the past has been very friendly and helpful to us in many matters. We fail to understand why the decades old friendly relations should be brought under pressure? There are wider areas of cooperation which should be exploited in the interest of the people. Neighbouring states have to build an atmosphere of understanding and cooperation and not of confrontation. It is reported that the two Chief Secretaries will be meeting in Srinagar soon to find a solution to the tangle. There should be a way out and we are confident that both sides are equally interested in finding an amicable solution.
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