Jammu and Kashmir is a rare water-surplus State or UT in India, with all the major rivers—nearly twenty of them, some major and some tributaries—flowing through it. But it is most unfortunate that Jammu and Kashmir has never been able to utilise its water resources properly. Neither hydroelectricity production nor the diversion of river water for irrigation nor proper drinking water facilities exist for citizens. While other states are fighting their legal battles to get some water for their states, here in Jammu and Kashmir, we are unable to utilise our water. Even though the GoI has proposed hydroelectric projects, there is still much work to be done. Unfortunately, the most important body of the J&K Water Resources Regulatory Authority has been without a head for more than a year and is severely understaffed. There can be no planning or decision-making meetings in the absence of the chairman. On the one hand, there is no one to plan for water regulation, and on the other hand, the most important positions of groundwater scientist, agricultural scientist, executive engineer, and so on are unfilled. It is beyond comprehension how UT can plan without proper regulatory authority. This regulatory authority’s importance has been undermined and compromised, necessitating immediate intervention from the highest authorities. Jammu and Kashmir’s cities are suffering from a huge shortage of drinking water, and our Kandi area is devoid of irrigation. The time has come to close all of the gaps from the past and move forward with proper planning. Many water schemes require immediate, focused planning for the future, and delays are major stumbling blocks in development work. How will we double our agricultural income or supply tapped 24-hour drinking water to the people of Jammu and Kashmir? The administration must look into the matter urgently.
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