Tulbul Navigation Project: What’s fuelling Omar-Mehbooba dispute amid Indus Waters Treaty suspension

War of words erupted between Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his predecessor Mehbooba Mufti on social media over the revival of the Tulbul Navigation project after the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty amid India-Pakistan tensions. 

 

PDP president Mufti accused Abdullah of adopting "provocative measures" amid the ongoing tensions. Jammu and Kashmir CM alleged that Mufti was trying to gain "cheap publicity points" and trying to "please some people" in Pakistan by opposing the idea. 

What is Tulbul Navigation Project? 

The Tulbul Navigation project also known as the Wular Barrage Storage project seeks to rejuvenate the Jhelum-fed Wular lake in Bandipora district. The Tulbul project involves construction of a 439ft long and 40ft wide barrage with a navigation lock at Wullar Lake. The project was launched in 1987 but was paused in 2007 amid objections from Pakistan as they claimed it violated the Indus Waters Treaty. 

 

After the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, Abdullah called for the resumption of the Tulbul Navigation project. 

 

"I wonder if we will be able to resume the project," posted J&K CM on X. 

 

However, Mufti launched an attack against Abdullah and labelled his call to revive the project as "irresponsible and dangerously provocative". 

 

"At a time when both countries have just stepped back from the brink of a full-fledged war - with Jammu and Kashmir bearing the brunt through the loss of innocent lives, widespread destruction and immense suffering - such statements are not only irresponsible but also dangerously provocative," she said. 

 

Following her remarks, Abdullah accused her of attempting to "please some people" across the border. He added that he has always opposed the Indus Waters Treaty and will continue to do so. 

 

"Opposing a blatantly unfair treaty is in no way, shape, size or form warmongering, it's about correcting a historic injustice that denied the people of J&K the right to use our water for ourselves," he added. 

 

In a separate post, CM Abdullah shared a news report which quoted Mufti saying, "Jammu and Kashmir has suffered due to the Indus Waters Treaty". "Just leaving this out there because "consistency" is in such short supply," he said.

India