CM Omar urges PM Modi to use diplomacy to end West Asia war

Says conflict is a humanitarian crisis impacting India directly, calls for immediate action

J&K aims to triple installed hydropower capacity to around 11,000 Mw by 2035, says CM  

Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to leverage India’s strong diplomatic relations with key global players to help end the ongoing conflict in West Asia and alleviate human suffering in the region.The Chief Minister made these remarks while speaking during the ongoing Budget Session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, where he addressed the escalating war in the Middle East that has affected lakhs of lives across the region and beyond.

Highlighting the human cost of the conflict, the Chief Minister said that while global discourse often shifts between regime change, strategic concerns such as the Strait of Hormuz, and rising oil prices, there remains a lack of clarity on the continued suffering of the people of Iran over the past several weeks.He emphasized that the crisis directly impacts India as well, noting that many Indian citizens, including those from Jammu and Kashmir, are stranded in Iran. He also pointed to the visible effects at home, such as long queues at petrol pumps, and the emotional distress felt by people.

“As representatives of the people, we have every right to raise our concerns in this House,” he said, adding that although the Assembly may not be in a position to stop the war, India’s diplomatic standing places it in a unique position to contribute towards peace.Referring to India’s relations with countries such as the United States, Israel, Iran, and other regional powers, the Chief Minister expressed confidence in the Centre’s ability to play a constructive role. He urged that an appeal be made to the Prime Minister to use these relationships and personal diplomatic channels to help bring the conflict to an early end.

He further stated that ending the war would not only reduce the suffering of the people in the affected regions but also allow for peaceful coexistence among nations.The Chief Minister strongly condemned what he described as an “unjust and illegal war imposed on Iran” and expressed condolences for all those who have lost their lives in the conflict, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and including his associates.

Reiterating his appeal, he said that the Government of India should make all possible efforts to end the war at the earliest, stressing that “the sooner it ends, the greater the benefit for humanity.”Framing the issue as a humanitarian crisis rather than a religious one, he said, “It is not any one religion that is being killed — it is humanity that is being killed.”He concluded by expressing confidence that the entire Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly would support any effort by India to play a meaningful role in bringing the conflict to an end.

The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday said the Union Territory possesses an estimated hydropower potential of about 18,000 MW, of which nearly 15,000 MW has been identified, and that it is on a fast track to triple its installed capacity to around 11,000 MW by 2035.Replying to a question of MLA Javaid Iqbal in Jammu and Kashmir assembly on Friday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said: “J&K has an estimated hydropower potential of around 18,000 MW out of which around 15,000 MW has been identified”.

He said that the 3,540.15 MW — about 24 per cent of the identified potential — has been harnessed so far.“This includes 13 projects with an aggregate capacity of 1,197.4 MW in the UT sector, six projects totaling 2,250 MW in the Central sector, and 12 projects with a combined capacity of 92.75 MW in the Independent Power Producer (IPP) or private sector”, he said.Chief Minister said that a comprehensive roadmap for the next decade has been drawn and is under implementation, and the UT is on a fast track to triple its installed hydropower capacity by 2035.

“The roadmap includes 3,063.5 MW from six under-construction hydroelectric projects and 4,507 MW from eight projects in the tendering, award, DPR or clearance stages. An additional 100–150 MW is expected to come from private sector projects during this period”.Consequently, the total installed hydropower capacity of Jammu and Kashmir is projected to reach around 11,000 MW by 2035, he added.

The government also said that in the backdrop of the Indus Water Treaty being kept in abeyance by the government, construction on ongoing projects has accelerated, and efforts are underway to identify potential storage projects to maximize the remaining hydropower potential.On the existing operational capacity, he said that union territory-owned hydropower projects contribute 1,197.4 MW, including major plants such as Baglihar-I and II (450 MW each), Lower Jhelum (105 MW) and Upper Sindh projects.

Central sector projects operated by NHPC account for 2,250 MW, including Salal (690 MW), Uri-I (480 MW), Dulhasti (390 MW), Kishenganga (330 MW) and Uri-II (240 MW), he said.“Private sector projects contribute 92.75 MW through smaller installations across districts such as Doda, Poonch, Bandipora, Baramulla, Ganderbal, Budgam, Anantnag and Ramban”, he added.