Sanjeev Pargal /
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Dec 3: Punjab is reported to have rejected Jammu and Kashmir claim for Rs 8000 crores worth compensation for construction of Ranjit Sagar dam upstream Madhopur barrage in Shahpur Kandi town of Pathankot, bordering Lakhanpur in Kathua district of J&K following which the State now has been left with no option but to seek additional water and power from upcoming canal project.
“Punjab, which was going to Assembly elections in the next few months, was of the view that it can’t entertain last 30 years claims of Jammu and Kashmir, which has been worked out by J&K Government at around Rs 8000 crores but was ready to bear Rs 28 crores worth cost for construction of new canal from Madhopur to Samba through Lakhanpur, Kathua and Hiranagar for irrigation purposes,” official sources told the Excelsior.
The Centre Government, whose Water Resources Ministry had recently intervened between Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir to find a solution to the deadlock between two neighbouring States over construction of the project, was reportedly of the view that Jammu and Kashmir should shun its oft-repeated demand for compensation of Rs 8000 crores and get more share in water and power from the new project, which will largely benefit the people of Lakhanpur, Kathua, Hiranagar and Samba as these areas will no longer remain Kandi belts.
Sources said Punjab Government, which was struggling after the Apex Court verdict went against it on water sharing pact with the neighbouring States, was of the view that it can’t, under any circumstances, entertain the claim of Jammu and Kashmir for whopping compensation of Rs 8000 crores for the losses suffered by it on account of water (Rs 6000 crores) and power (Rs 2000 crores).
However, they said, Punjab Government was of the view that it was ready to fully fund construction cost for canal right from Madhopur to Samba, which has been worked out around Rs 28 crores and apart, was ready to consider J&K Government’s demand for additional water and power supply from Shahpur Kandi Project.
“For the purpose, J&K Government would have to clear its stand on compensation. If it sticks to the compensation demand, it was going to get nothing and will turn out to be a big loser as no State was going to give Rs 8000 crores worth compensation for the losses of past 30 years. Instead, it should get additional water and power from the project from Punjab and get the canal constructed free of cost in the interest of local people, who will benefit a lot as their barren land will turn fertile,” sources said.
As per the agreement, Jammu and Kashmir will be entitled to 1100 cusecs water and five per cent power generated from the project. The State Government, according to sources, can seek bigger share for Jammu and Kashmir both in terms of water and power if it shunned the demand for Rs 8000 crores compensation.
Entire population of Kathua and Samba districts in Jammu region was also of the view that the J&K Government shouldn’t insist on Rs 8000 crores worth compensation, which it was making for the past more than 30 years without any response from Punjab Government, which has even refused to consider the demand but to say of accepting it. Instead, they said, the J&K Government should go for immediate construction of canal and seek additional water and power for the people of these two districts, whose barren land will become fertile.
Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh had arranged a meeting in New Delhi between representatives of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab Government with the mediation of Union Water Resources Ministry headed by BJP veteran Uma Bharti.
Sources pointed out that the Centre too was of the view that Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab would be in a win-win situation if J&K agrees for construction of canal and Punjab releases excess water and power for the State with both States signing new agreement. However, this will be possible only if J&K first gives up its demand for Rs 8000 crores worth compensation for previous losses and signs new agreement with Punjab, they said.
Recently, the J&K Government had written to Punjab seeking Rs 8000 crores worth compensation but now, according to sources, there was definitely a second thought among those in corridors of power.
Ranjit Sagar dam has 600 mw power generation capacity. At the time of agreement reached between Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir which the neighbouring State had terminated in 2004 after adopting bill in the Legislature on water sharing, Punjab had to provide 1100 cusecs water to J&K from river Ravi.
Asserting that case of Jammu and Kashmir has been upheld as very genuine at various forums including Central Government and other neighbouring States of Punjab, sources said the Supreme Court decision nullifying Punjab’s 2004 legislation that had scrapped water sharing agreements with neighbouring States including Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and New Delhi, had justified the position of J&K.
The Kandi belt of Kathua and Samba would have been major beneficiary of construction of canal from Shahpur Kandi, which could have irrigated the land of Pathankot, Kathua and Samba districts and changed fortunes of the people of rural belt, who were waiting for this to happen for the past 30 years but continued to suffer. There can be so much irrigation from the project that it would no longer be called the Kandi belt.
The new project of canal could deliver a blow to Pakistan which was getting excess water from river Ravi in Punjab. The flow of excess water to Pakistan would stop once Shahpur Kandi canal project is constructed.
Punjab was reported to have kept budgetary provision for the canal project and was ready with tendering work once Jammu and Kashmir conveyed its formal nod for shelving demand for compensation of losses, which Punjab was not ready to consider on the ground that there were procedural wrangles involved in it.
Under the Indus Water Treaty water of Ravi, Beas and Sutlej rivers of Punjab had come in the share of India while that of Chenab, Jhelum and Indus (Sindh), all in Jammu and Kashmir, was to be shared with Pakistan.
The public representatives of three Assembly segments of Kathua, Hiranagar and Samba have also shown their concern over the failure of two Governments (Punjab and J&K) to declare truce and reach on a settlement over the issue saying delaying the construction of the project will put the farmers of this side to further more losses.
Strongly advocating for construction of project, the public representatives of these three Assembly constituencies said with additional water flowing through Ravi canal it can irrigate the land right from Kathua to Vijaypur Assembly segment of Samba district and this will bring cheers on the faces of thousands of farmers as thousands kanals of agriculture, horticulture and floriculture land will get irrigation facilities resulting in boosting the green revolution in the Kandi belts of these twin districts as well.
They said a ray of hope had generated among the farmers after the Union Water Resource Ministry had intervened to bring the two States on negotiating table so that a via media is found for construction of the canal which is hanging in balance for last 30 years in general and particularly since 2004 after Punjab terminated the agreement.
“It is a grave tragedy that on one hand the J&K is crying that its three rivers including Chenab, Jhelum and Sindh have been included in Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan and the State has a limited share for utilization of water of these three rivers flowing through J&K while, on the other, the surplus water of Ravi river which passes through twin riparian States of J&K and Punjab is allowed to go waste or used by Pakistan while the thousands canals of fertile land in twin districts of Kathua and Samba has been allowed to turn barren due to the callousness of successive Governments”, said Rajiv Jasrotia MLA Kathua.
There was a need of strong will power for construction of the project which unfortunately the State Government lacked, he said.
“Though we are not opposed to seeking compensation for accumulative losses from Punjab but, at the same time, we should not create hindrances in construction of the project which can be a source of green revolution in these twin districts of Jammu which are known as rice bowl of the region,” Jasrotia said.
Supporting Jasrotia’s views, his party colleague and MLA Hiranagar Kuldeep Raj also expressed his displeasure over the constant delay in construction of project saying the two States should have agreed to construction of project and release of water share of J&K in the canal so that farmers of the area didn’t suffer any more.
“The talks for compensation can go side by side as it should not have become a stumbling block in the construction of the project,” he added.
“The State Government should take 1100 cusecs of water from river Ravi and utilize it for irrigation of land,” said Charanjit Singh ex MLA Kathua. He said the agreement is binding on Punjab and the share of J&K is justified.
He said the State has suffered a heavy loss over the years and the two Governments should sign the agreement and J&K’s share of water be released.
Maintaining that construction of canal should be priority of J&K Government, he said the claim of arrears can run simultaneously.
MLA Samba Dr Devender Manyal also advocated the construction of canal saying it should be the priority of the State Government and the claim for compensation should also be followed at the same time.
“But creating hurdle in construction of canal can’t be justified,” he added.
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