news details |
|
|
| Centre considers IWT review, JK seeks amendments | | | Saqib Ahmad
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Sept 27: As Government of India is considering of review the Indus Water Treaty post Uri, the Jammu and Kashmir government has demanded amendments in the existing provisions of the Treaty.
Following Uri attack, Union government is considering to abrogate the Indus Water Treaty to send a strong message to Pakistan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said blood and water can't flow together.
Meanwhile, in Jammu and Kashmir, all political parties have been seeking amendments in the Treaty and had raised the issue with the Centre number of times even before the Uri attack.
The Indus Waters Treaty is a water-sharing treaty between India and Pakistan, brokered by the World Bank (then the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development).
It has placed curbs on the construction of storage reservoirs on rivers in J&K which could ensure the provision of requisite water flow.
As Valley witnessed two floods during two years in 2014 and 2015, the Jammu and Kashmir government has again decided to seek amendments in the Indus Water Treaty for construction of water storage reservoirs on rivers that could help state during floods.
"Government has sought suggestions from various experts including some retired chief engineers how to prevent the state from floods in the future. We have decided to raise the issue with Union water resource ministry to make some amendments in Indus Water Treaty with the neighboring country Pakistan so that we can make water storage reservoirs on the rivers that could help J&K to prevent from floods," a senior government official said..
The J&K government believes that requirements of the state were not taken into account when India-Pakistan negotiated the Treaty.
The Indus Water Treaty was signed on September 19, 1960 by Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President of Pakistan Ayub Khan.
The water level of rivers increases even by average downpour due to less carrying capacity of water bodies in the region.
Valley witnessed a massive damage with 2.54 lakh private structures and more than Rs 6500 crore public infrastructure were lost by the 2014 year floods and around 300 people lost their lives besides rendered thousands of people homeless.
It was also seen in the first week of April 2015 when moderate rainfall posed a serious flood threat and several areas remained inundated in water.
According to a survey, the Kashmir is prone to the floods with Sonawari, Awantipora and Srinagar always being at risk of flash floods.
The official said government was actively considering about the measures that needs to be taken to prevent J&K from floods. "Even slight or moderate downpour is posing a serious threat of floods. The water carrying capacity has reduced and state lacks water storage reservoirs to resist floods," he said. Valley has a history of floods of around 130 years. The first flood which has been recorded on the Shergari gauge dates back to July 21, 1893. The Shergari gauge, the first gauge was set up in 1893. Since than, some major floods hit the Valley in 1900, 1902, 1903, 1905, 1912, 1929, 1948, 1950, 1957, 1959, 2014 and now again in 2015. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
