Revival call for the decades-old Wular Lake project draws sharp criticism amid fresh Indo-Pak tensions, reigniting debate over the Indus Waters Treaty and Kashmir바카라s water rights.
Decades-old infrastructure project in Jammu and Kashmir has reignited political tensions and sparked a war of words between two of the region바카라s most prominent political figures: National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti. At the heart of the renewed clash lies the Tulbul Navigation Project , a dormant but geopolitically sensitive initiative once halted due to Pakistan바카라s objections under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
The controversy began after Abdullah took to social media platform X to pitch for the revival of the Tulbul Navigation Barrage. He argued that with the "temporary suspension" of the IWT, there was a renewed opportunity to restart the project, which could revitalize commercial trade, tourism, and winter power generation along the Jhelum river.
바카라The barrage was started in the early 1980s but had to be abandoned under pressure from Pakistan citing the Indus Water Treaty,바카라 Mr. Abdullah posted on 바카라Now that the IWT has been temporarily suspended, I wonder if we will be able to resume the project. It will give us the advantage of using the Jhelum for navigation and improve the power generation of downstream power projects, especially in winter.바카라
According to The Hindu the Wular Lake project, also known as the Tulbul Navigation Project involves the construction of a barrage at the mouth of the Wular Lake in Bandipora district. First initiated in 1984 at Ningli, the project is designed to regulate water discharge from the lake during the lean season (October to February). This would ensure year-round navigability of the Jhelum river 바카라 a lifeline for the Valley 바카라 and support trade, transport, and electricity generation during Kashmir바카라s harsh winters. However, construction was halted in 1987 due to opposition from Pakistan, which claims the project violates the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960, a World Bank-brokered agreement governing water-sharing between the two nations.
Mr. Abdullah바카라s public call to revive the project has not gone down well with the PDP. Reacting sharply, Mufti labelled the statement 바카라a provocation바카라 and criticized the timing, as per PTI reports, especially after the recent four-day military confrontation between India and Pakistan.
바카라Mr. Abdullah바카라s call to revive the Tulbul Navigation Project amid ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan is deeply unfortunate,바카라 said Mufti. 바카라At a time when both countries have just stepped back from the brink of a full-fledged war, such statements are not only irresponsible but dangerously provocative.바카라
She added that 바카라weaponising something as essential and life-giving as water is not only inhumane but also risks internationalising what should remain a bilateral matter.바카라
Abdullah, in turn, dismissed the criticism, accusing Mufti of playing politics and ignoring the historical injustice meted out to Jammu and Kashmir through the IWT. 바카라With your blind lust to try to score cheap publicity points and please some people sitting across the border, you refuse to acknowledge that the IWT has been one of the biggest historic betrayals of the interests of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,바카라 he retorted. 바카라Opposing a blatantly unfair treaty is in no way warmongering.바카라
The spat also saw personal barbs being exchanged. In a pointed remark, Mufti referenced historical flip-flops in NC's political stance: 바카라It바카라s worth recalling that your esteemed grandfather Sheikh Sahab once advocated for accession to Pakistan for over two decades after losing power. But post being reinstated as Chief Minister he suddenly reversed his stance by aligning with India.바카라
She contrasted this with PDP바카라s approach, claiming her party had 바카라consistently upheld its convictions and commitments바카라 unlike the 바카라political expediency바카라 shown by the NC.