Anti-Kishanganga project voices are paid agents of Pakistan: Taj Mohi-ud-Din
Kaiser Mir & Malik Sajid
Jammu and Kashmir, senior Congress
leader and Minister for Irrigation and PHE Taj Mohi-ud-Din is considered as the senior mainstream politician of the Jammu & Kashmir State. He has
enjoyed quiet an impressive political career. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in the year 2002 from Uri constituency of Baramulla district
and became a minister. He had again won from the same constituency in the 2008 Assembly elections. He joined Congress Party in 1986.
In an
exclusive interview with “The Kashmir Impact”, Taj Mohi-ud-Din talks to Kaiser Mir& Malik Sajid.
How would you describe the qualitative
and quantitative stock of drinking water supply in Srinagar?
As far as the quality of drinking water supply is concerned I would like to say
that we are having one of the world`s best water treatment plant at Rangill. I can fully guarantee you that Srinagar`s drinking water supply is best
in whole country. On the quantity part, we are facing lot of difficulties and we are not able to supply the appropriate quantity of water because
there is lot of unplanned construction happening around the city. This mushroom growth of residential colonies adversely affects the water supply
which is being given as per master plan and population forecast.
Water pipelines are laid down according to planned construction and they have
limited capacity. But people carry unplanned constructions and then came up with complaints regarding drinking water supply.
--What is the
latest Water Resource act all about?
This act is a step towards economic self reliance of state. Through this act we are able to impose water
usage charges on all major and medium hydroelectric projects. Besides, this act is meant for providing proper water supply throughout state,
regulating its fees and metering of water supply.
--What steps are being taken to upgrade irrigation facilities in state?
Government is
working sincerely on up gradation of irrigation facilities in the state of J&K. We are implementing modern technology and machinery. Besides we are
trying our best to upgrade the canals and also to restore the different water bodies especially Wullar Lake.
--Many rural areas in the state
still don`t get adequate drinking water supply. What is being done in this regard?
In our rural areas, the scantiness of drinking water supply
is due to the fact that sizes of villages are increasing exponentially. As you know, villages get drinking water supply free of cost through public
stand posts (PSP`s) which are allotted according to plan, and in rural India, one PSP is allotted for 40 houses. But now the situation has changed for
example, if a village used to have 50 households now the same village is having 300 houses. Also, now people in villages want direct water supply to
every household without paying any charges.
--There has been a report of forgery in the records of some P.H.E employees, which is causing
trouble to other genuine employees. What is your take?
No, I don`t agree with this report, we have a comprehensive mechanism to check all the
documents of employees and the record we are having is cent per cent genuine. We never allow illegal appointments in our department and there is no
possibility of having any such frauds.
--Pakistan has raised its serious concern over the Kishanganga Dam Projects and local environmentalists
state that the Dard Shin People going to displaced by Controversial Kishanganga Dam Project. What is your take on this?
The Kishanganaga Dam
Project is well within legal requirements and is direly required to meet the energy requirements of our state. As a matter of fact, Pakistan had
approached the International Court of Arbitration (ICA) for a stay over project which it has failed to get. This project is well within Indus Water
Treaty signed by both India and Pakistan. The displaced tribes can live on the slopes of the dam. All these so called environmentalists who have
started to talk against Kishenganga project are actually the ‘paid agents of Pakistan’.
--Politics in Kashmir is “as filthy
as Dal lake” and corruption cuts across party lines, according to leaked US diplomatic cables from India released by Wikileaks. It also talks of
huge agency money received by kashmiri politicians. How do you view this as a seasoned politician?
There might be some corruption among the
mainstream politics, but the amount money given by Pakistan to keep the pot boiling goes to separatists and their agencies are after the life of
mainstream politicians.
--You recently made a historical statement that NHPC is behaving like East India Company. What has been the impact of
this statement?
There have been great positive impacts of this statement. Now, the Government of India has disowned NHPC and called upon it to
respect laws. NHPC and all the other corporations have been tamed and made to follow the laws & regulations. Now they have started paying for usage of
water resources of state.
--Experts state that future flood will inundate Kashmir .What is your call on this?
Well, this is actually my
saying. We have from several decades been quiet lethargic towards challenges of flooding. As a matter of truth, we have acted carelessly and in the
name of blind urbanization built colonies on crucial flood channels. We have recently given orders for importing dredgers to tackle the challenges
posed by any future flooding. We are now revisiting the entire system and trying to fix the rot. We all should pray that at least for next four years
there is no major flooding in Kashmir.
--What is your message to the people of J&K state?
My message to people is that water is the
most beautiful and precious gift to us from Almighty. We all must respect it and use it properly. Government is planning for its conservation and I
appeal to general masses that they must co-operate with us at every step.
Courtesy:The Kashmir Impact Magazine
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