Asif Malik
With the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) currently in abeyance, Union Minister for Power and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar, on june 13 said that the Central Government is now free to move ahead with long-pending power projects in Jammu and Kashmir, including the much-debated Wullar Barrage.
Speaking to the media during his visit to Srinagar, Khattar said that India now has full sovereign control over its share of river waters, which earlier came under treaty-related restrictions. “Since the IWT is now in abeyance, there is no obstacle. We are going forward with new hydropower projects in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Khattar noted that objections raised by Pakistan in the past—particularly regarding the Wullar Barrage project from 1981—are no longer valid. “There is no need to seek consent from them anymore. That limitation has been removed. We will resume that project and complete it soon,” he assured.
He also issued a warning to Pakistan, saying that any misadventure or attempt to interfere with India’s water usage will be met with a strong response. “They have already received an answer before. If they do it again, the response will be even stronger,” the Minister warned.
Touching upon any possibility of future dialogue with Pakistan, Khattar made the government’s stand clear. “Talks and terror cannot go together. Trade and terror cannot go together. Blood and water cannot flow together,” he said, repeating India’s longstanding policy on bilateral relations with Pakistan.
When asked about how China might respond to India’s water usage plans on the Brahmaputra River, Khattar said that such matters are strategic in nature and shouldn’t be speculated about.
He also addressed recent reports of cyberattacks on Government infrastructure. Refuting such claims, the Minister clarified that a recent power outage was not the result of a cyberattack but due to a physical break in the line. “The issue was resolved quickly, and power was restored within five hours,” he said.
Khattar praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 11-year tenure as one of “historic transformation.” He said 2014 marked a crucial turning point in the country’s governance and development trajectory. “In the last 11 years, we have corrected many of the gaps that existed in the previous 67 years,” he said, attributing this progress to Modi’s experience as Chief Minister of Gujarat and his attention to local civic issues.
Highlighting achievements, he said that 99% of Indian villages now have all-weather road access. He also said that India now ranks third in the world in metro infrastructure. Khattar added that travel time on important roads such as the Srinagar-Jammu highway has been reduced by half.
He also emphasized that the abrogation of Article 370 brought full constitutional integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India, calling it a move that “removed a barrier to national unity.” He said projects like the Vande Bharat Express are not just symbolic, but will also help Kashmiri farmers reach bigger markets more efficiently.
Regarding the BJP’s internal leadership, Khattar stated that the party will elect its next national president within a month. “We don’t respond to political parties. We respond to people—through delivery and performance,” he said.
Meanwhile, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who met Khattar at the SKICC in Srinagar, also confirmed that his government is in touch with the Centre over resumption of development work post the suspension of the IWT.
“After the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, we have two projects—one in Kashmir and one in Jammu—on which work can start soon. Discussions with the Central Government are currently underway,” Omar told reporters.
He said that his meeting with the Union Power, Housing and Urban Affairs Minister was mainly to review progress on Centrally Sponsored Projects and Schemes under both ministries, which he heads at the state level. “Overall, progress in both sectors has been quite satisfactory. However, we did point out some areas where we have high expectations from the Centre. In some places, there were minor shortcomings, and we’ve been advised on how to correct them. We will act on those suggestions,” he said.
When asked about the financial state of the Power Department, Omar admitted that it is still under financial stress. He said the reason lies in the gap between the cost at which electricity is purchased and the rate at which it is supplied. “We are giving electricity at concessional rates to all—be it domestic consumers, businesses, or industries. That’s why the department is still in debt. But things will improve gradually,” he said.
