O P Sharma
Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh UTs are hit hard due to frequent shortage of electricity supply during intense cold or hot seasons. The major irritants are: first, Indo-Pak Indus Water Treaty (IWT) of 1960 which hinders tapping nearly 10,000 MW-hydro-power potential of water resources and also lack of large investments in the past on tapping this resource in the erstwhile J&K State. Now is the time to have a hard-look at the IWT and initiate chain of negotiations on this “unfair treaty” with Pakistan.
It may be mentioned that this IWT accord was signed by PM. Pt Jawaharlal Nehru and Pak’s president Mohammad Ayub Khan on September 19,1960 and it was also brokered by the World Bank. It envisaged that India can use the waters from major Western rivers like Indus, Jhelum, Chenab in Jammu and Kashmir for domestic purposes up to 20 per cent and leave rest 80 per cent for Pakistan. It was also mandated, among others, restrictions on water storage for power generation from “run- of- river flow” only.
Major Hindrance
This handicapped exploitation of huge hydro-potential despite scarcity of electricity and hardships to the common masses has also hit the industrial sector which led to many disputes and hindrances in the past. Now is the time for us to take a call on this issue of “unfair treaty in the national interest and objection from the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Recently elected J&K UT Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed apprehensions on the IWT, which restricts the ability to harness our huge hydro-power potential primarily due to “storage constraints of ‘run-of-river flow’ alone”.
Power Ministers’ Meet
At the recent State and UTs’ Power Ministers’ Conference at New Delhi, chaired by Union Power Minister, Manohar Lal Khatter, CM Omar who also holds Power portfolio opined that due to fallout of this treaty barriers, J&K has to pay “heavy price” as power generation hits “low” creating great hardships for the people.
CM Omar at the Power Ministers’ meet, expressed strong views on 1960-IWT at the conference of Power Ministers which was chaired by Union Power Minister, Manohar Lal at the national capital. This high-level meeting was also attended by top officers’ delegation from the J&K Power Development Department as also Power Ministers from all the State and UTs from all over the country.
The Union Minister of State for Power, Shripad Yesso Naik, and several senior officers were also present in this conference and took part in the deliberations.
Mr Omar highlighted the limiting clauses in the Indus Water Treaty that restrict Jammu and Kashmir from exploiting its full hydro-power potential by only permitting run-of-the-river projects.
J-K CM Pleads Case
“Hydro-power is J&K’s main viable energy resource in addition to “unconventional sources” like from vast solar, wind and other modern means such as ” nuclear energy” but the UTs of Jammu – Kashmir and Ladakh are now determined to move forward!
This part of the country had been compelled to rely on power imports from the National Grid, which adversely impacts its economy. To address this issue, J&K certainly needs from Central Government a “special package” for viability gap funding and equity assistance to harness its untapped hydro-energy potential,” the CM Omar said adding the support would not only help in meeting the region’s energy needs but also contribute to national clean energy goals.
Remedial Steps Needed
He also sought Centre’s intervention in holding Central Public Sector Undertakings like PESL and National Thermal Power Corporation accountable in fast tracking loss reduction under premier Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme in J&K.
During the session on Solar power potential and green energy, Mr Omar underlined the importance of fully exploring this power resouce in Jammu region, Kashmir valley and Ladakh area to meet the ever-increasing need in the ” energy sector”.
Jammu and Kashmir, endowed with a vast network of rivers and streams, holds vast potential as a significant contributor to India’s hydro-power landscape. However, the Indus Water Treaty (IWT)-an accord signed between India and Pakistan in 1960 -has imposed stringent restrictions on our capacity to exploit this resource by hindering our efforts to harness the hydro-power potential fully. The main issue is the technical restrictions imposed by IWT on water storage and the type of power projects permitted on India’s western rivers allocated to Pakistan. The treaty mandates that India’s use of the waters of the Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab rivers in UTs of Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh also by limiting to “run-of-the-river” projects without significant water storage capacity. This restriction, while effective in preserving natural flows into Pakistan, severely impacts J&K’s ability to build large reservoirs that could store water during peak flows and release it in the lean winter months. As a result, the UT’s hydropower plants are forced to operate below optimal capacity, especially during winter season precisely when the need for electricity spikes due to low temperatures. This seasonal fluctuation has significant social and economic repercussions, forcing the region to rely on costly power imports from other parts of the country.
Strong Case
Needless to add that Jammu and Kashmir faces a unique set of challenges: nearly four decades of terrorism, financial in stability and other factors. The tourism, agriculture, industry and allied sectors, mainstay of J&K’s economy, are also dependent on regular supply of quality and regular electricity energy. Among other things the IWT must be reviewed by the Central Government and firm desired stand must be taken up through negotiations with Pakistan in the larger national interest.
The CM’s request for central intervention in holding these organizations accountable for loss reduction projects under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme deserves immediate attention. Effective implementation of RDSS could be a game-changer for J&K’s power sector, facilitating the delivery of affordable and reliable electricity to the region.
Meanwhile, in addition to tackling with problem of IWT, it is pertinent for investment of modern technology that optimize power generation despite flow limitations, coupled with infrastructure improvements and innovative steps for upgrading power supply in border Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh regions.
(starline.syndicate.service@gmail.com)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
