J&K CM’s remark on water sharing unreasonable: Akali Dal leader
The ongoing debate on water sharing between Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and Punjab has taken a new turn with Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema terming J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent remark “unreasonable”.
Abdullah had sparked controversy by stating that J&K would not share any water with Punjab, citing that the state’s water needs were already being met. However, this statement has been met with strong opposition from Punjab, which relies heavily on the waters of the Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas rivers that originate in J&K.
Cheema, a senior leader of the Akali Dal, has termed Abdullah’s remark as “unreasonable” and “arbitrary”. He stated that J&K has been receiving water from these rivers for decades and has been using it for its own purposes. “We did not expect him to comment on Punjab, as river water distribution has earlier also been in favour of other states like Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi,” Cheema added.
The Akali Dal leader further emphasized that J&K has a moral obligation to share the waters of these rivers with Punjab, which is facing severe water scarcity. “Punjab is facing a water crisis, and it is the responsibility of J&K to come to its aid. We cannot just sit back and watch Punjab suffer,” Cheema said.
The controversy surrounding water sharing between J&K and Punjab is not new. The two states have been at odds over the issue for years, with each side accusing the other of not cooperating in sharing the waters of their common rivers.
In 2014, the two states had agreed to set up a water sharing mechanism to ensure a fair distribution of the waters of the Sutlej, Ravi, and Beas rivers. However, the mechanism has been stalled since then, with J&K refusing to budge on its stance that it would not share any water with Punjab.
The Punjab government has been trying to revive the mechanism, but J&K has been unwilling to engage in talks on the issue. The stalemate has left Punjab reeling, with the state facing severe water scarcity and crop losses.
The Akali Dal leader has also accused J&K of using the waters of these rivers for its own purposes, without giving any thought to the needs of Punjab. “J&K has been using the waters of these rivers for generation of power, irrigation, and other purposes, without giving any consideration to the needs of Punjab. This is not a fair and reasonable approach,” Cheema stated.
The remark has sparked a heated debate in Punjab, with many calling for the state government to take a strong stance on the issue. The state’s farmers, who are already facing severe distress due to the water crisis, are demanding that the government take immediate action to resolve the dispute.
The Akali Dal leader has also appealed to the Center to intervene in the matter and ensure that a fair and reasonable solution is found to the water sharing dispute. “We hope that the Central government will take notice of this unreasonable remark by the J&K Chief Minister and ensure that the waters of these rivers are shared fairly and reasonably between the two states,” Cheema said.
In conclusion, the remark by J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah that his state would not share any water with Punjab has been termed “unreasonable” by Shiromani Akali Dal leader Daljit Singh Cheema. The Akali Dal leader has emphasized that J&K has a moral obligation to share the waters of these rivers with Punjab, which is facing severe water scarcity. The controversy surrounding water sharing between J&K and Punjab is a long-standing one, and it is high time that a fair and reasonable solution is found to this issue.
