CM Omar Abdullah pitches for revival of Tulbul Navigation Barrage Project

The Project, aimed at regulating water flow from Wular Lake into the Jhelum River, was conceived in early 1980s as a vital inland navigation and irrigation initiative.
STC NEWS MONITORING DESK
SRINAGAR, MAY 15 (STC): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has called for the resumption of the long-stalled Tulbul Navigation Barrage project in North Kashmir. Backing his call, the CM cited the recent “temporary suspension” of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) as an opportunity to revisit critical water infrastructure initiatives.
In a post on social media platform X, Abdullah highlighted the strategic and developmental significance of the Tulbul project near Wular Lake. “It was started in the early 1980s but had to be abandoned under pressure from Pakistan citing the Indus Water Treaty,” he wrote.
He added that the current pause in the treaty’s implementation might pave the way for restarting the project. “Now that the IWT has been ‘temporarily suspended,’ I wonder if we will be able to resume the project. It will give us the advantage of allowing us to use the Jhelum for navigation,” Abdullah stated.
He also underlined that the revival of the barrage would significantly boost power generation in downstream hydroelectric projects, especially during the winter months when water flow is at its lowest.
The Tulbul Navigation Project, aimed at regulating water flow from Wular Lake into the Jhelum River, was conceived as a vital inland navigation and irrigation initiative. However, it has remained in limbo for decades due to objections from Pakistan under the provisions of the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty. (Inputs from agencies)