Sachnews Jammu Kashmir
Srinagar, June 20:
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has firmly opposed the sharing of water with neighboring states under the proposed 113 km-long canal project intended to divert surplus water from the western rivers of the Indus system in J&K to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
Speaking on the matter, the Chief Minister as per Sachnews Jammu Kashmir said, "No one will get the water, at least not with my approval for now. First, let us use our water for our own needs, and only then we can talk about others. Jammu is facing a drought; taps here have run dry. Why should I send water to Punjab?"
He further emphasized the historical context of the issue, stating, "Punjab already received three rivers under the Indus Water Treaty. Back then, Punjab did not offer us water when we needed it the most. We suffered while waiting for the Ujh Multi-purpose Project and Shahpur Kandi. They kept us waiting for years. Only after prolonged struggle did some work begin on Shahpur Kandi."
Reiterating his stance, Omar Abdullah made it clear that the water resources currently available in the Union Territory are essential for its own population. "This water is for us right now. We will use it ourselves and only then think about sharing it with others," he concluded.