New Delhi: The Central Government’s plan to remove surplus water for Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan from three western rivers of Indus system in Jammu and Kashmir has raised a strong war of words among the leaders of the northern states.Talking about the 113 km long canal proposed to redirect the surplus water to the low -repeated states, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah objected to the turn of water to Punjab and said that he would never allow the allocation.“I will never allow it. Let us use our water for ourselves first … Why should I send water to Punjab in Jammu? Punjab already had water under the Indus Water Treaty. Did they give us water when we needed it?” J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the news agency ANI.
Voting
Do you support the turn of surplus water from Jammu and Kashmir to Punjab and Rajasthan?
Abdullah’s statement did not sit well with the ally Congress, as Punjab MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa expressed his disappointment on the comment.“By making such statements, they should not reduce patriotism. During operation vermilion, Pakistanis attacked Punjab more than Jammu and Kashmir. As long as the patriotism of Punjab and its farmers remain strong, India will remain strong … I am very disappointed with their statement.”Last week, Home Minister Amit Shah announced that the Indus water in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan through canals “within three years”, “stating that the extended irrigation network would benefit a large part of the country, while Pakistan will be left” longing for every drop of water “.Sources familiar with development said that the proposed Chenab-Ravi-Beshe-Sutlage Link is being designed to integrate with existing canal systems at 13 places across Jammu, Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, eventually broadcast of water to Indira Gandhi Canal (Sutles-Baz).
