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| In his self rule class, Baig counts ‘losses’ NHPC caused to J&K | | |
Early times
Doda, Nov 22: On an extended campaign to create awareness on party’s self rule proposal, the Peoples Democratic Party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig today strongly called for renegotiating the Indus Water Treaty and sought public support for making a case to send the National Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC) packing so that Jammu and Kashmir enjoy benefits of its waters.
Since all major power projects on Chenab are in the Chenab Valley region, Baig explained to the audience as how contracts with NHPC were detrimental to economic interests of the state and a blow to the individual interests of the people living in three districts of Chenab Valley.
In support of his argument Baig said, as per rough estimates the Jammu and Kashmir State has already been suffering a recurring loss of Rs 600 crore per annum because of discriminatory Indus Water Treaty and surrendering of water resources to NHPC against a paltry royalty of just 12 percent electricity has further complicated the State’s economic distress”,
The former Deputy Chief Minister said that his party had moved a resolution in the Assembly against this discriminatory agreement with NHPC but due to non-cooperative attitude of the other parties the resolution could not passed in the House.
"I don't think any state in the country would barter its resources in such a reckless manner as was done by the NC government by handing over seven power projects to NHPC under an arbitrary agreement signed by it with the Union Power Ministry in 2000," he said and added that NC's illogical surrender of the State's water resources to the NHPC was another worst blow to its economy.
Beig observed that water is to J&K as oil is to the oil producing countries, but National Conference had systematically sold out this most valuable resource for the lust of political power. He said it was tragic that a state so rich in resources that it could be cash surplus was converted into a virtual begging bowl as a result of NC’s lust for power. “In our Self-Rule proposal we demand rights on our water resources so that we can utilize these resources properly to make our State economically self-reliant”, he said and further demanded that NHPC projects namely Dulhasti and Salal hydro electric projects should be handed over to Jammu and Kashmir government.
Referring to the acute backwardness of the Chenab Valley region, Beig said it was ironical that while most parts of the sub-continent were benefited by the water flowing from it, the region itself was steeped in darkness. He said the arrangement with the NHPC did not even provide for employment to local people who were forced to look for menial jobs elsewhere and made a personal pledge to fight for restoration of this area’s rights over its resources.
Throwing light on the Self-rule document, the former Deputy Chief Minister said that it was the realistic and practical solution to address all dimensions of Kashmir problem. This is the best possible solution which is formulated by accommodating aspirations and wishes of all stake holders," Beig said, adding “we are holding such seminar at different areas to seek peoples’ response towards our proposal”. |
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