'Why Send Water To Punjab? Did They Help Us?': Omar Abdullah On Indus Water Diversion Plan

Last Updated:June 20, 2025, 17:16 IST

Omar Abdullah made it clear that Jammu and Kashmir should prioritise its own needs first

J&K CM Omar Abdullah (PTI/File)

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday opposed a plan to divert surplus water from the Union Territory’s rivers in Punjab.

Speaking to the media at a press conference, he made it clear that Jammu and Kashmir should prioritise its own needs first.

“Why should I send water to Punjab?" Abdullah said. “I will never permit this. Let us use our water for ourselves first… There is a drought-like situation in Jammu."

The central government is reportedly working on an ambitious plan to fully utilise India’s share of water under the Indus Waters Treaty. A feasibility study is ongoing for a 113-km inter-basin canal that will connect the Chenab River to the Ravi-Beas-Sutlej system.

This canal would divert surplus water from Jammu & Kashmir to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. The project is expected to integrate with 13 existing canal systems across these regions and eventually feed into the Indira Gandhi Canal—India’s longest canal—helping redistribute water to drier areas.

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Location :

Jammu, India, India

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