Desk : Following Operation Sindoor, tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated, leading India to suspend the long-standing Indus Water Treaty. The government clarified that the treaty was meant only for times of peace, and if Pakistan is unwilling to maintain peace, the treaty will no longer be applicable.
In this context, the Jammu and Kashmir government is set to restart the Wular Barrage project, aimed at controlling the storage and flow of the Jhelum River. Previously, the project had been put on hold due to the Indus Water Treaty, but with the treaty now suspended, the state government plans to work on it in collaboration with the central government.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the assembly that his government is working with the Centre on two major water projects — water supply from the Chenab River to Jammu city in Akhnoor, and the Tulbul project (Wular Barrage) on the Jhelum. It is noteworthy that funding for the Wular project had earlier been obtained from the Asian Development Bank.
Currently, the size of Wular Lake varies according to the flow of the Jhelum River, ranging from a minimum of 20 sq km to a maximum of around 190 sq km. Locals hope that reviving the project will improve livelihoods, as the lake’s water levels drop during winter, causing many areas to dry up. The project is expected to help regulate water flow and boost employment opportunities.