JAMMU, Apr 4: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today evaded a direct reply as to whether National Law University will be set up in Jammu but referred to a resolution adopted by the Assembly on October 29, 2025 which referred to establishing the NLU at Srinagar without any further delay.Omar, who holds charge of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Department, gave this information in response to two written questions on the NLU tabled in the Legislative Assembly by PDP MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi and BJP MLA Yudhvir Sethi.
The Chief Minister evaded direct reply as to whether additional NLU will be set up at Jammu and referred to a resolution adopted by the Assembly on October 29, 2025 tabled by Congress MLA Nizam-ud-Din Bhat which says: “This House unanimously resolves to impress upon the Government to initiate the process of establishing the Jammu and Kashmir National Law University at Srinagar, without any further delay as the funds earmarked for the first phase have already been provided”.
He said the Legislative Assembly of erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir enacted the J&K National Law University Act, 2018, which received assent of the Governor on 28.09.2019. However, he added, the Government is yet to notify the headquarter of the University in terms of Section 3 of the Act. Once a notification under Section 3 of the Act is issued, further necessary steps for establishment of University shall be taken accordingly.
“The establishment of NLU is under active consideration of the Government, Earlier, a Committee under the chairmanship of Shantmanu, Financial Commissioner (Additional CS), Higher Education Department (now retired) as Chairman has examined the issues related to establishment of NLU considering the similar NLUs established in other States/UTs with emphasis on law and infrastructure classrooms, faculty, hostel accommodation, admission process, registration and fees etc. The Committee has submitted the report, which is under examination, and any decision on related aspects, including location, shall be taken thereafter,” the Government reply said.Meanwhile, the Chief Minister today said the Detailed Project Report of Sawalkote Hydroelectric project (1856 MW) being constructed by the NHPC has been prepared based on the technically feasible and commercially viable conditions and duly approved by the Central Electricity Authority, Minister of Power, Government of India and a comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement plan has been formulated for the project, taking into account the extent of impact on the local communities.
Omar, who holds charge of the Power Department, gave this information in response to a written question of BJP MLA from Udhampur West Pawan Gupta. The reply was, however, read by Jal Shakti, and Forests Minister Javed Rana in absence of Omar. Rana also replied to the supplementaries.Gupta, however, was agitated over the reply and not satisfied. He threatened to resign if the response regarding the Udhampur section of the project proved correct.
However, Javed Rana sought to pacify the agitating member, assuring that the Government would not take any step that would compel him to resign.
Pawan later staged walkout from the House.
The Government reply gave details of the project features including all access roads to project components. It said: “The matter of selection of access road to project site/components depends upon various engineering and economical considerations and that any change in the project access road at later stage or time may result in delay in construction of project and cost overrun.
As per the Government reply, the Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R) plan included compensation measures for the landowners and resettlement entitlements in accordance with the standard practices for all affected districts.
The Sawalkote Hydroelectric Project is a major 1,856 MW run-of-the-river project planned on the Chenab River in the Ramban, Udhampur and Reasi districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
“Therefore, it won’t be prudent to say that Udhampur district is out of commensurate development benefits,” the written reply said.
It said the project components fall across three districts of Jammu and Kashmir — Ramban, Udhampur and Reasi, with Ramban district bearing the maximum submergence and emerging as the most affected district in the Union territory.
Out of the total land requirement of 1,401.35 hectares for the project, Ramban accounts for the largest share at 1,097.55 hectares, followed by Udhampur with 197 hectares and Reasi with 106.8 hectares.
With regard to submergence, the Government said out of 1,158.75 hectares of total land, Ramban accounts for 1,030.55 ha (88.94 per cent), Udhampur for 63 ha and Reasi for 65.2 ha, firmly establishing Ramban as the most affected district in the Union territory.
The Minister provided a detailed breakdown of project components across the three districts.
He said the diversion tunnel, right abutment of the dam and right bank tunnels fall under the Reasi district, the adit of right bank tunnels, most of the submergence area and other construction facilities fall under Ramban district, while the powerhouse, main tunnel and left abutment of the dam are located in Udhampur district.
On the question of road connectivity, the Government noted that the road connecting Jammu city to Ramban is an all-weather road being maintained by the National Highway Authority of India, while the road connecting Ramban to Zero Morh is constructed and maintained by the Border Roads Organisation.
It said the proposed road from MH Morh to Chakka is a single-lane route with high maintenance costs and would not be suitable for the transportation of heavy machinery and equipment required for the construction of the project.
It said the selection of access roads depends on detailed engineering and economic considerations and any change at a later stage could result in construction delays and cost overruns.
In reply to another written question, Omar said that 256 illegal occupants have been identified along the flood plains of the Tawi River in the Nikki Tawi area of Jammu district, with encroachments spread over 328 kanals and 15 marlas of prime land.
Replying to a question of BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa in the Assembly, Omar said that the details were submitted before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in connection with an ongoing case concerning alleged environmental degradation of the river.
The Deputy Commissioner has submitted details of encroachments on the river’s flood plains before the tribunal, identifying 256 illegal occupants under certain khasra numbers, he said.
“As reported by the Deputy Commissioner, 256 illegal occupants have been found on the spot along the Tawi River under alleged khasra numbers in Nikki Tawi. The entries, however, are not recorded in revenue records”, the chief minister said.
