SRINAGAR: The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, has underscored the need for addressing the constraints imposed by the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) on Jammu and Kashmir’s ability to harness its vast hydropower resources.
He explained that the treaty, which governs the use of river waters between India and Pakistan, limits Jammu and Kashmir to run-of-the-river projects and restricts its capacity for water storage. This limitation, he noted, severely hampers power generation, especially in the winter months, resulting in energy shortfalls and hardships for residents.
The Chief Minister, who also manages the Power portfolio, made these remarks at the Conference of Power Ministers of States and Union Territories held today in Delhi, which was chaired by Union Minister for Power, Manohar Lal. Senior officials, including Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, Dheeraj Gupta, and Principal Secretary for Power, H. Rajesh Prasad, accompanied the Chief Minister as part of the Jammu and Kashmir delegation. Minister of State for Power, Shripad Yesso Naik, and Power Ministers from across the country were also present.
Highlighting the limitations of the Indus Water Treaty, Omar Abdullah noted that Jammu and Kashmir has significant hydropower potential, but treaty constraints prevent the region from fully utilising this natural resource. “Hydropower is Jammu and Kashmir’s only viable energy source. The region is therefore compelled to rely on power imports from other states, impacting its economy significantly,” he stated.
To address these challenges, Abdullah urged the Government of India to provide special compensation, including viability gap funding and equity assistance, to support Jammu and Kashmir’s hydropower projects. He argued that such support would not only meet the region’s energy requirements but would also contribute to the national goal of expanding clean energy sources.
The Chief Minister also sought central intervention to ensure accountability from Central Public Sector Undertakings, including the Powergrid Corporation of India and the National Thermal Power Corporation, for expediting loss reduction initiatives under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme in Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, he requested that the Ministry of Power consider gap funding for essential electric infrastructure projects under the RDSS programme.
During discussions on renewable energy, Abdullah highlighted Jammu and Kashmir’s interest in solar power generated in Ladakh, expressing the state’s desire to procure any surplus energy the Union Territory of Ladakh can produce.
Earlier, Omar Abdullah arrived in Delhi on Monday evening to participate in the conference held at the India International Convention and Expo Centre, Dwarka. He engaged fully in the day’s discussions and emphasised Jammu and Kashmir’s stance on energy and infrastructure needs at the national forum.
