Jammu

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Thursday said he would take up the issue of pending commitments related to the Ranjit Sagar Dam with the Punjab government, following concerns raised by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The matter was highlighted in the Assembly, where BJP legislators pointed to alleged lapses in fulfilling obligations under the agreement governing the project.

The Ranjit Sagar Dam, also known as Thein Dam, is a 600 MW hydroelectric project on the Ravi river, located between Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, and was completed in 2001.

Responding to the concerns, Abdullah said the agreement signed in 1979 between the two governments is binding and must be honoured. He assured the House that the Punjab government would be formally reminded of its commitments and urged to fulfil them.

He noted that Jammu and Kashmir is entitled to a 20 per cent share of electricity from the project under a 2019 agreement between the respective power corporations. However, this supply has yet to begin due to the absence of adequate transmission infrastructure.

On compensation, the chief minister said that out of the total sanctioned amount, a significant portion has already been released, while a smaller balance remains pending. He added that delays have also occurred because some beneficiaries have not completed required documentation, despite repeated notices.

Abdullah also addressed concerns regarding employment for families affected by the project, stating that the issue involving over 800 families has been raised with authorities. He acknowledged that the jobs provided so far have not met expectations and said further discussions would be held to ensure commitments are fulfilled.

He emphasised that while the government is keen to expedite compensation payments, funds can only be released once all procedural requirements are completed.

Reiterating his commitment, Abdullah said the matter would be reviewed with relevant authorities to ensure that all obligations under the original agreement and rehabilitation policies are implemented within a defined timeline.

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BJP legislators, meanwhile, urged the government to take the issue seriously, highlighting grievances related to delayed compensation, inadequate job opportunities, and the posting of affected individuals far from the project area.