J&K wants Rs8,500 crore in damages from Punjab

Political temperature is rising in Jammu and Kashmir after Omar Abdullah government slapped Rs8,500 crore compensation notice to Punjab for denying its share of water and power from the Ravi canal in neighboring state.

“For the past 34 years, Ravi canal could not be completed by successive governments. Present coalition government took the bold step of completing it and getting the state’s share of water and power from Punjab. For the delay, the government has sent a compensation notice to Punjab valuing Rs8,500 crore including Rs2500 crore as the cost of share of power from Punjab”, said Taj Mohidin, J&K minister for irrigation, flood control.  

The J&K government believes the water share from Ravi would usher in a green revolution in the state with production of over 2.66 lakh tones of additional foodgrains.

“Over 1.33 lakh ha of virgin agricultural land in Jammu would be irrigated by the construction of remaining portion of Ravi canal upstream Basantpur from Satwain village in Kathua district”, said Taj.

The minister said the state invested heavily in the construction of the dam by providing 65% land. “Unfortunately not a single unit of power or single drop of water was made available to the state”, he said.  Around 40% of land for the project was provided by J&K but did not get anything in return. J&K was promised 120 MW of balance power from the dam, but nothing came its way.