news details |
|
|
| IMPEDIMENTS OF PUNJAB | | |
K K PANGOTRA
It is a time to recall that resolution of Punjab Legislative Assembly passed in 2004 whereby govt. has refused to be practical on any water treaty signed with the neighboring states i.e. Haryana, Rajsthan and J&K. It is a clear impediment. Thanks to irrigation minister of J&K govt. who is determined to combat the Punjab government. It is firm belief that any gesture or act, honestly for public cause is not only appreciated but supported as well. Days back a good news come for the peasants of J&K, particularly for those who are farming in the rich southern soil of Kathua, Samba and Jammu districts. The statement given by irrigation minister, Mr. Taj Mohiuddin, regarding a water treaty signed in 1979, wherein Punjab govt. agreed to provide 1150 cubic water and twenty percent electricity generated after completion of Ranjeet Sagar Dam at Theen near Basohali in J&K. The statement impartially encouraged the lawyers and leaders beside general public. That is why, the opposition leaders, leaving aside the biased party politics, are not only appreciating but supporting the gesture of irrigation minister of the state.
It is obvious that govt. of Punjab never remained honest in fulfilling the treaties signed with its neighboring states. In this context Punjab govt. has not till date made its words true in the light of 30 years old treaty signed in 1979. In total Jammu & Kashmir has beard a loss of 3700 crores approximately incurred due to non supply of water and power mentioned in the agreement resulting in considerable decline in cereal production. It is pertinent to note here that 65 percent of total land covered beneath the water of Ranjeet sagar Dam is owned by J&K state. The appreciation and support thus received by the minister for irrigation is all natural in the context of socio–economic development of state as a whole. The reasons are well obvious. Nearly 81 percent of total population of the state is directly or indirectly depends on agriculture and allied activities and occupations. Moreover 60 percent of total revenue is being contributed from this chunk field. Notwithstanding the factual reality the agronomy for the last 25 to 30 years has not improve as per exception perceived. As called Ravi-Tawi Treaty of 1979, the agreement had come with new hopes for agriculturists, agro related entrepreneurs and traders. Govt. has spent crores to improve the irrigation setup and agriculture scenario for accelerating the socio-economic development of state.
Keeping in view the Ravi-Tawi agreement work on a huge production oriented irrigation project was started with a departmental structure which aimed at prospering the southern rich plains and some parts of barren Kandi belt from Kathua to Jammu followed by construction of a wide spread range of distributaries and sub- distributaries of Ravi-Tawi canal linking remote fields up to international border area. Ravi-Tawi canal originates from Ujjh barrage reservoir near Jasrota village of Kathua district but due to the ill will of Punjab the required flow of water couldn’t be maintained in the major distributaries. It resulted in run down condition of most sub-distributaries. Similarly the condition of Kashmir canal too is not satisfactory to meet the requirement of farmers technically. The refusal of Punjab regarding terms of agreement gave a remarkable setback not only to agrarian development but also left the agriculture of whole reign a gamble of monsoons. It also resulted in discouraging most of small and medium farmers to pursue active and whole time farming. According to a National Sample Survey report 40 percent farmers in the country have already been migrated more or less towards other occupations. The situation compels us to imagine the plight of farmers in J&K created by non availability of proper irrigation facilities. The bore well option proved a failure. The farmers are also disinclining due to present trend of industrialization and urbanization.
Here it is also pertinent to note that on 25th of Nov. 2007 Vice President of India Hamid Ansari visited the state to take part in convocation. In the function he hoped for second green revolution to start from J&K. It was a joyful feeling but due to harder topography, diversity of climatology and above all lack of proper irrigation facilities it seems at present impossible. In the words of Ansari, “Agriculture is important not only for economic development of state but also equally important for cultural and social upliftment.” These words can be construed as a message to the policy makers of the state not to air the balloons of false promises and baseless claims. It is all clear that 70% working populace finds means of earning in agriculture but it cannot reach up to the expected standards of development. It is also important to think about the actual problem of agriculture. Undoubtedly in J&K it is irrigation indeed.
Because a big portion of land in the state is hilly and mountainous comprising of cultivated fields measuring less than one hectare in the plains of Jammu province. In these small and undulated farms there is insufficient production which causes minimum investment. In the Kandi area, not to talk of canals, even ground water probability is a leap in the dark. So it is important to search the possibilities of canal irrigation thereafter to able the farmers to use latest agro techniques to achieve maximum benefit. By the way the plains of Kathua, Samba and Jammu area together are known as store house of cereals in Jammu and Kashmir. If Ravi-Tawi project touches the climax the agriculture scenario can be improved up to the expectation. It means that the main problem of agriculture is insufficient irrigation. Welcome to the new plan of a under ground canal for which a huge sum of 597 crores has been ermarked but it is beforehand necessary to strengthen the determination to get the 20% power and 1150 cusec water from Ranjeet Sagar Dam. As hoped by the vice president of India Mr. Hamid Ansari during his visit on 25th Nov. 2007, if the centre govt. really wants the beginning of second green revolution right from Jammu and Kashmir, it must pressurize Punjab govt. to be true on the terms of the agreement excepted in 1979. It would not be sufficient on the part of centre govt. to define the matter an interstate affair. Any way the impediments created by Punjab are notably to be worried about. Let us see the proceedings
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
