SRINAGAR: The Indus Water Treaty (IWT), the water-sharing agreement signed between India and Pakistan in 1960, has emerged as a divisive issue in Jammu and Kashmir, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti taking opposing views on the matter.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called for a re-evaluation of the treaty, arguing that its limitations on water storage and use significantly hinder Jammu and Kashmir’s hydropower potential. At a recent Conference of Power Ministers in Delhi, Abdullah outlined the adverse effects of the treaty, which restricts Jammu and Kashmir to run-of-the-river hydropower projects and forbids large-scale water storage. This, he said, not only constrains the Union Territory’s energy generation—especially critical during winter months—but also places a heavy burden on its economy due to dependency on power imports from other states.
“Hydropower is Jammu and Kashmir’s only viable energy source,” Abdullah remarked, urging the central government to provide targeted support for the region’s energy needs. He proposed special compensation measures, including viability gap funding and equity assistance, to enable Jammu and Kashmir to develop its hydropower capacity. Additionally, Abdullah requested accountability from Central Public Sector Undertakings, such as Powergrid Corporation and NTPC, to expedite loss-reduction and infrastructure initiatives under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS). He also highlighted Jammu and Kashmir’s interest in securing solar energy from Ladakh, seeking to strengthen the region’s clean energy portfolio.
In stark contrast, Mehbooba Mufti, leader of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Abdullah’s predecessor, cautioned that reopening the Indus Water Treaty could exacerbate regional tensions and serve the political interests of the BJP. While she acknowledged the constraints posed by the treaty on Jammu and Kashmir’s energy potential, she warned that revisiting the agreement risks inflaming sensitive regional dynamics.
“Jammu and Kashmir is the only region producing electricity yet facing severe shortages, as NHPC controls the power, which it then sells back to us,” Mufti remarked, calling on Abdullah to instead prioritise the reclamation of local power projects from NHPC or seek financial compensation from the Centre if such a transfer proves unfeasible. Mufti’s comments underscore her concerns that a push to renegotiate the treaty could fit into the BJP’s narrative, potentially leading to heightened regional discord.
As Jammu and Kashmir’s political leaders debate the impact of the Indus Water Treaty on local energy security and economic autonomy, the issue has become a focal point for regional politics. While Abdullah advocates for central assistance and treaty revision to address the Union Territory’s power challenges, Mufti warns that such actions could have broader, destabilising consequences. The discourse surrounding the treaty now reflects the growing complexity of balancing Jammu and Kashmir’s developmental aspirations with concerns about national and regional stability.
