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A. R. Shaheen,
MP, Baramullah Lok Sabha constituency, Jammu & Kashmir |
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Environment experts limit water concerns only to harvesting and conservation. We hear voices of efficient usage of water, water pollution and water management. However, A. R. Shaheen, Lok Sabha MP Baramullah, Kashmir has different concerns. He states that water has international ramifications. Indus Water Treaty has compromised India's rights over its rivers. It has limited utilization of water for the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
Though we cannot violate the treaty now, there is a clear solution, he proposes. Forge South Asian Union, bring countries together and utilize hydro power surplus potential of Nepal and Bhutan. Instead of confrontation over Kashmir rivers, Pakistan can buy hydro power from India.
Sounds too optimistic? Well, it reflects Shaheen's credentials. A staunch advocate of communal harmony, he has worked extensively on Muslim rishis (saints) of Kashmir. His colleagues call him sadhu (monk) as he spends greater part of his life delving into comparative religion studies. Here are his insights with regards to water issues in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
What are the water resources of Kashmir?
Kashmir has no water of its own. We receive snowfall during winter, which gets deposited on mountain peaks. It melts in summers and we get water in rivers. However, if we do not have snow fall for two, three consecutive years, streams dry up. Water sources in Kashmir are dependent on nature.
We do have a few rivers, but we cannot use those. Jhelum flows throughout the valley, Chenab passes through Jammu, Kishanganga moves around fringe of Kashmir valley and all of these flow towards Pakistan.
If Kashmir is totally dependent on nature, then global warming and consequent melting of snow makes Kashmir vulnerable to climate change. A sudden melting of glaciers may flood rivers flowing through the valley.
It could be a threat but it has not been a challenge for us because we do not receive adequate snow fall. In fact, if we get less snowfall for two consecutive winters, our rivers go dry in summers.
Floods become an issue after rainfall. After mid August, we sometimes have heavy rainfall, which floods our rivers.
It is difficult to construct and maintain water storage mechanisms in hilly areas. Do you have enough water?
Within the valley, water supply can be a problem. During Maharaja's period, the solution was to make big tanks and collect water. However, that system is not doing well now because we do not have enough rainfall as we had earlier. We also have lesser snow fall today. Also, our villages have limited water supply now. In most of the villages, government has supplied raw water. They collect water from some streams and without any filtering, supply it. It's not potable.
Irrigation in my area is done through lifting water. You have to lift water by pumps. If people are short of electric power, they use diesel motors, which are expensive and have taken a toll on local agrarian economy. Proper planning is necessary to utilize sources of water. At present we have only ad hoc arrangements, which have caused much harm to the valley.
Is this a recent phenomenon? Or did Kashmir valley face water shortage throughout its history?
It's been the same situation earlier as well. However, earlier we had less population, few houses and demand for water was less. Now, water demand has gone up and population has also increased.
Perhaps, earlier demand for water was less with same population. Now overall demand has increased.
Earlier natural resources like canals and rivers sufficed for water requirements of people. Houses were designed keeping in mind the winter season. Change in way of living has increased demand for water. With supply remaining the same, it is causing problems.
It is claimed that Indo Pak tussle is primarily a conflict over rivers of Jammu and Kashmir. How do you view it?
It is indeed the primary conflict. Pakistan admits Kashmir is its jugular vein. Entire Pakistan is dependent on water from rivers of Kashmir. Punjab has five rivers- Chenab, Jhelum, Satluj, Rabi and Beas. Last three are not going towards west Punjab in Pakistan as we have diverted those rivers. However, Pakistan gets sustained water supply from Chenab, Jhelum, Indus and their tributaries. Indus and Kishanganga which Pakistan calls Neelam, merge into Jhelum at Muzaffarabd in POK. We have no rights over these rivers.
Do you believe we have bartered our rights under Indus Water Treaty of 1962, which determines rights over these rivers?
I do believe our upper riparian rights have been bartered away to Pakistan. This is a fool proof treaty and we are left with no space to negotiate. It is so technically drafted that they can challenge us even if we draw a bucket of water. As far as the text of the treaty is concerned, they are well within their right to prevent us from doing so.
You find this treaty a diplomatic failure.
Utter failure, I must say. I do not know why we signed it. Unfortunately, when Indus Water Treaty was being drafted, our leader and representative Sheikh Abdullah was in jail. In fact, all of us who launched movement against Maharaja and who wanted to make Jammu and Kashmir a socialist and secular State were imprisoned. Behind our back, central government of Delhi took a decision and gave away our rights to Pakistan. Our case was not pleaded well and they gave our rights over our rivers to Pakistan. Today, we have to limit our operations only on the flow of our rivers. This treaty does not authorize us to make any reservoir or use water in any other manner.
I was on a committee of hydro power generation of Ravi Beas project, under which power production cost for Punjab is 8 paisa per unit. J & K purchases same power from national grid at 3.60 Rs per unit. On the contrary, J & K has the capacity to produce more than 10000MW of hydro power. We have immense hydro power potential but Indus Treaty does not allow us to utilize it. We can have only run off of the river projects, which suffers during lean period in summers.
Do we have a solution against this treaty?
We cannot violate Indus Treaty today. That would destabilize the subcontinent. But, we can find a way out. If the problem between both the countries is resolved, we can start moving towards South Asian Union. We can bring Nepal, Bhutan and even Kabul into our fold. We can make use of surplus hydro power generation in Nepal and Bhutan. India and Pakistan are well connected. Pakistan can draw from our national grid. We must utilize all the sources of South Asian region.
Is hydro power a good option considering immense initial cost and transmission loss it entails? Some people say nuclear energy is a better option.
Well, hydro power has greater gestation period and requires higher installation cost. Transmission and distribution losses from point of generation to the consumption area are much higher for hydro power. Hydro power project can be stationed only near the rivers, while nuclear power plants can be placed near point of demand reducing transmission loss. But, we have lesser hazards in hydro power. Hydro power is an important source of power. It would be a criminal negligence if we ignore our hydro power potential.
Interview by: Ashutosh Bharadwaj, IndianNGOs.com
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