J-K govt should ask centre to return two power projects: Mehbooba Mufti

Srinagar, Nov 13: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday said that Omar Abdullah led government and other regional political parties should ask central government to return two power projects to Jammu & Kashmir.

Mehbooba’s remarks came after J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah stated that Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is restricting the ability of the Union Territory to harness its huge hydel power potential.

She said instead of questioning the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), we should impress government of India to return two power projects to Jammu & Kashmir. “Instead of questioning the Indus water treaty, we should ask the Indian government to return two power projects to solve the problem of power. If it does not happen, compensation should be given. This matter should be resolved between the Indian government and J&K government. By questioning this we are starting a new battle, we are creating a new fight,” Mehbooba Mufti said.

Notably, India and Pakistan signed the IWT in 1960, with the World Bank being a signatory to the pact which sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two sides on the use of waters of a number of cross-border rivers in J&K.

Mehbooba Mufti said we should think over it the electricity we are producing on our own water is ours or not? “When Late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah was CM he handed over Salal to New Delhi, and similarly his son Dr Farooq Abdullah as chief minister J&K surrendered seven power projects to National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC). So at this juncture Omar Abdullah-led government and other regional political parties should focus on to impress central government to return two power projects, or compensate in terms of money to J&K,” Mehbooba said.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti further said that it is BJP's narrative to review the treaty.

"It is said that we are not fully utilising the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) agreement, but whatever we have utilised and the power projects we have built, are they ours? It is BJP's narrative that we should review the treaty. Since we have suffered a lot, the Indian government should compensate for it...Since Rangarajan Committee was handed over to NHPC, at least two power projects should be handed over to Jammu and Kashmir, she added.

The PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said, “In the last 70 years, J&K has been a battleground between India and Pakistan. There have been several wars, and every day there is a new incident. Abida who was injured in a grenade attack at TRC Srinagar, succumbed to her injuries a day ago. We have suffered so much loss that can never be compensated”.