Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], November 13 : Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti on Wednesday said that instead of questioning the Indus water treaty, JK parties should ask the Indian government to build two power projects to solve the problem of power in the Union Territory.
"Instead of questioning the Indus water treaty, we should ask the Indian government to build 2 power projects to solve the problem of power. If it does not happen, compensation should be given. This matter should be resolved between the Indian government and J&K govt. By questioning this we are starting a new battle, we are creating a new fight, Mehbooba Mufti said.
This came after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's statement where he said that the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) is restricting the ability of the Union Territory to harness its huge hydel power potential.
India and Pakistan signed the IWT in 1960, with the World Bank being a signatory to the pact which sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two sides on the use of waters of a number of cross-border rivers in Jammu and Kashmir.
PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti further said that it is BJP's narrative to review the treaty.
"It is said that we are not fully utilising the Indus water treatment, but whatever we have utilised and the power projects we have built, are they ours? It is BJP's narrative that we should review the treaty. Since we have suffered a lot, the Indian government should compensate for it...Since Rangarajan Committee was handed over to NHPC, at least two power projects should be handed over to Jammu and Kashmir, she added.
"In the last 70 years, J&K has been a battleground between India and Pakistan. There have been several wars, and every day there is a new incident. Abida who was injured in a grenade attack succumbed to her injuries yesterday. We have suffered so much loss that can never be compensated, the PDP chief added.