Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 25: The J&K State has suffered massive losses to the tune of over Rs 11,239 crore as the Punjab has denied State’s share of electricity and water from the Ranjit Sagar dam constructed on river Ravi at Thein in Basohli area district Kathua.
Speaking on the resolution moved in the Upper House of the Legislature by NC member, Dr Bashir Ahmed Veeri, Minister of State for Power Vikar Rasool disclosed that J&K State has been denied share of power and water from the Ranjit Sagar dam by the Punjab Government despite the fact that a bilateral agreement was reached between the two Governments before taking up the work on the project.
He disclosed that as per decision of the inter-state conference held at New Delhi on January 29, 1955, the J&K State had to get 0.69 MAF (partition share) water from Ravi river. The agreement was also 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 which was proposed about 12 kms of down stream of Ranjit Sagar dam.
For the construction of dam, J&K Government acquired 1,11,740 kanals of land of 22 villages of Basohli and Kathua. As per agreement, J&K was entitled to get 20 % of power share generated from this dam. For this, J&K Government also laid double circuit 220 KVA transmission line. With the construction of Shahpur Kandi barrage, 1150 cusecs of water was to be released for J&K which has not been released till date due to non-construction of this barrage by Punjab Government.
The Minister pointed out that agriculture losses for 1.05 lakh acres of land which has been deprived of irrigation facilities over the years resulted in losses of Rs 2.50 crore per annum and the total agriculture loss for the last 30 years has been put at Rs 7500 crore till date.
The power losses to the State in 15 years have been put at Rs 3650 crore whereas, the loss on account of non-payment of full land compensation has worked out around Rs 89 crore. Besides this, out of the 767 oustees, still 204 dam oustees are yet to be provided employment. He disclosed that the total loss caused to the State has been put at Rs 11, 239 crore till date.
The Minister further said that river Tawi is one of the tributaries of river Chanab which is main river of Indus Water Treaty, for which the rights of irrigation have been restricted to 50,000 acres of land. The cultivable command area of Tawi canal is nearly 35,000 acres but due to restrictions, it has been limited to 32,200 acres. It has been further restricted to 27,600 acres on the completion of Ravi canal network.
There is also loss in the crop production in the Command area of Tawi canal due to lifting of less water from river Tawi because of this Treaty. He admitted that State has been put to major loss due to Indus Water Treaty. A team of experts has been engaged to assess the loss caused to the State due to Indus Water Treaty so that compensation demand is projected before the Government of India. He also admitted that J&K Government was never consulted before signing (IWT) agreement by Indian Government with the Pakistan.
As the Minister assured that issue has already been taken up strongly by J&K Government, the member withdrawn the resolution. Sheikh Ghulam Rasool and Subash Gupta also spoke on the resolution. Mr Rasool asked the Government to take up matter before the higher court for seeking justice for the State.
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