Omar Abdullah Slams Water Diversion Plan, Says “Why Should I Send Water to Punjab?”
J&K CM Opposes Canal Project Meant to Divert Indus Waters to Northern States
“Let Us Use Our Water First,” Omar Cites Drought in Jammu to Justify Stand
Cites Shahpur Kandi Barrage Dispute: “Kitne Saal Unhone Humein Rulaya”
J&K CM’s Defiant Tone Reflects Lingering Resentment Over Historical Water Disputes
Srinagar, June 20, KNT: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took a combative stance on Friday when questioned about the reported construction of a 113-kilometre canal meant to divert water from the three western rivers of the Indus system in the Union Territory to the northern Indian states of Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan.
“Why should I send water to Punjab?” the Chief Minister fired back, visibly irked by the suggestion. “I will never permit this. Let us use our water for ourselves first. There is a drought-like situation in Jammu. Why should I send water to Punjab? Punjab already had water under the Indus Water Treaty. Did they give us water when we needed it?”
His comments come amid rising concerns in Jammu and Kashmir over the centre’s accelerated efforts to develop infrastructure under the Jal Shakti Ministry, aimed at ensuring no drop of water meant for Pakistan goes unused following the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).
Omar Abdullah did not shy away from invoking past wounds, particularly the decades-old dispute over the Shahpur Kandi barrage in Pathankot. “Kitne saal unhone humein rulaya (They made us cry for so many years),” he said, referring to the 1979 agreement between Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir which remained stalled for nearly four decades. It was only after central government intervention in 2018 that the project finally moved forward.
The Shahpur Kandi barrage is intended to control the flow of water from the Ravi River to Pakistan, but the long delay in its construction had left J&K with limited irrigation access and power generation capabilities for years.
The Chief Minister was unequivocal in his rejection of the proposed water-sharing arrangement. “For now, the water is for us. We will use the water first, and then we will think about others,” Omar stated bluntly.
The fiery comments from Omar Abdullah come at a time when New Delhi is reportedly working at war-footing pace to rechannel water from the Indus system — a move seen as both a diplomatic signal to Pakistan and an attempt to address water scarcity in India’s agrarian belt.
Signed in 1960, the Indus Waters Treaty governs the use and distribution of six rivers — Beas, Ravi, Jhelum, Indus, Chenab, and Sutlej — between India and Pakistan. Following the launch of Operation Sindoor, India has officially suspended its adherence to the treaty, triggering wide-ranging consequences domestically and internationally.
Abdullah’s remarks underscore growing regional resistance to the Centre’s unilateral decisions over natural resources, particularly water. “This is not just about water. It’s about justice and fairness. Jammu and Kashmir cannot be treated as a conduit to serve others while its own needs go unmet,” a senior J&K official told Kashmir News Trust (KNT) on condition of anonymity.
With growing concerns over drought conditions in Jammu and increasing politicisation of water distribution, Omar Abdullah’s no-holds-barred stand is expected to intensify the debate on resource federalism and the Centre-state dynamic in India.
