Tulbul Navigation Project (TNP)

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on February 10 informed the J&K Legislative Assembly that his government is working with the Centre to revive two projects that had been put into abeyance following objections from Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). One of the key projects under consideration is the Tulbul Navigation Project (TNP).

Also known as the Wular Barrage, the Tulbul Navigation Project was first conceived in the 1980s, with construction beginning in 1984. However, work was halted in 1989 after Pakistan raised objections citing provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty and following the outbreak of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Objective of the Project

The primary aim of the TNP was to ensure a uniform flow of water in the Jhelum River throughout the year to facilitate navigation. The Jhelum is one of the three rivers in the Kashmir Valley that fall within the ambit of the now-suspended Indus Waters Treaty.

The project sought to regulate water discharge during lean seasons to maintain navigability between Srinagar and Baramulla, improving inland water transport and related economic activities.

Key Features

The Tulbul Navigation Project envisages the construction of a lock-and-control structure on the Jhelum River at its confluence with Wular Lake in Sopore town of north Kashmir.

• Proposed length of the structure: 135 metres
• Proposed width: around 12 metres
• Location: Ningli area of Sopore

A lock-and-control barrage is a hydraulic structure that combines a river control dam with a navigation lock. It is designed to maintain upstream water levels while allowing vessels to move between different water levels.

Treaty Context

Pakistan had objected to the project on the grounds that it allegedly violated provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, which governs the sharing of waters of the Indus river system between India and Pakistan.

Source: IE