The government has embarked on a major overhaul of the official policy on the exploitation of the State’s water resources by the hydel- power companies. If pursued with the same degree of commitment, the move has the potential to redefine the image of the present government. The job so far has been well done. After the Assembly passed the Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources (Regulation and Management Act),  in its recent session in Srinagar, laying down that companies running hydro-electric power projects in the State pay for the water they use to generate electricity, the government is now seeking a review of the agreements with the power generating companies in the State. These companies will now require a fresh clearance from the State government for continuing their operations in the State. More importantly, they would require signing of an agreement with the State government specifying the status of land on which the power projects have been built and also on the return of the projects to the State.  These requirements are ambitious in their goal. Once fulfilled, this will recast the equation between the power companies and the State government which has so far been happy with an unfair deal in the successive agreements. The new water law alone is expected to enhance the earning of the State by a considerable Rs 848 crore as additional revenue from its power projects. The law also levies taxes on water used for irrigation and drinking which, the government says, will fetch the exchequer another Rs 150 crore. Government is also getting assertive on the return of the power projects. However, such a demand will need more than rhetorical assertion to be taken seriously. The centre has already refused to implement the Rangarajan Committee recommendations which make a genuine case for the return of the Dulhasti, Salal and Uri power projects to the State.  The State government will need to pursue the goal with dedication and consistency. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, has given enough indication of his seriousness on this vital issue that concerns the core interests of the State. He has talked about the discriminatory provisions of the Indus Water Treaty. J&K, he rightly said, has lost its right of impounding and optimally utilizing the waters of Indus, Chenab and Jhelum rivers to take care of the seasonal variations in power demand. Recently addressing a meeting of Group of Power Ministers from different states in New Delhi, Omar made a strong pitch for the compensation to the State for the colossal losses, it has suffered as a result of the unfair treaty.  Early this year, CM also asked his officials to assess the losses to the State as a result of the Indus Water Treaty. He called for the hiring of the reputed consultants for the purpose. However, there hasn’t been any forward movement on the issue. An honest assessment of the losses by a professional agency will go a long way to put the issue in perspective and add force to the State’s argument about being discriminated against in IWT. The Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources (Regulation and Management Act), however, underlines that the government has mustered some resolve to fight the great power injustice the state has been subjected to over the past more than four decades.  The Act has now empowered it to deal directly with the power companies and find ways and means to address the State’s legitimate grievances on the exploitation of its water resources without interfering with the framework of the IWT.  A room has also been created for some renegotiation on the usage of the water and the land in the generation of power. Already, questions are being raised about the status of the land and whether it was leased to the power companies in the first place. And it is good thing that these questions are being asked. At last.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 3 Nov 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 3 Nov 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 4 Nov 2010 00:00:00 IST