Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 1: A mega Rs 1008 crore water supply project is being prepared to cater to the need of drinking water by lifting it from river Chenab near Akhnoor for the Greater Jammu while the city is still facing a shortage of nearly 3 MGL (30 lakh gallons) of water per day.
Authoritative sources told Excelsior that the State Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has already given a nod to the project which will be completed in two phases. The project has been designed to cater to the need of water supply for the Greater Jammu for the next 30 years. The river Tawi has been found inadequate to meet the demand of water supply for over 13 lakh souls or more in next one decade.
The Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) has been asked to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the first phase of the project costing over Rs 500 crore. The designed period of the Ist phase is for next 15 years, up to 2026 and the second phase for the next 15 years. In Phase-I, the PHE authorities plan to lift 225 MLD of water from river Chenab. The intake water channel will be dug about 70 meter down stream the existing old bridge on the left bank of the river at Akhnoor. The intake structure would be raised there and the water would be taken up to Gurha Pattan, about one kilometer from this point, where water treatment plant will be set up. The water testing has already been performed.
The sources further disclosed that water by gravity from this point will be taken to Muthi (Jammu) Central Pumping Station for storage, through pipes of 1.8 m diameter, covering 20.5 km distance. It will be lifted to Upper Roop Nagar storage tanks and then supplied to the city areas where water deficiency exists. The proposed areas to be covered in Jammu north- west are Roop Nagar, Bantalab, Muthi, Durga Nagar, Buta Nagar, Janipur, Indira Colony, Bhawani Nagar, Naseeb Nagar, Patoli, Paloura, Rajpura, Rehari New Plot etc.
From the Muthi central storage point, the water will also be taken to Narwal pumping station and Belicharana with gravity. The water stored there will be supplied to the areas like Bathindi, Sunjwan, Channi Himmat, Sainik Colony, Greater Kailash, Gangyal, Chatha, Raipur, Satwari, Jeevan Nagar, Airport area. The DPR is expected to be completed by ERA by March 2013. The summary appraisal report will be completed by January 2013 and the project completion period will be three years from the date of its execution.
Chief Engineer PHE Jammu B R Dogra, when contacted told that department was presently providing nearly 42 MGL of water per day to the population of over 13 lakhs in Jammu city. He said the net requirement of water for the existing city population is 45 MGL of water per day. So, 3 MGL (30 lakh gallons) of water shortage was still there in the city.
Mr Dogra pointed out that requirement of water in Jammu per house- hold is nearly 135 lt per day and the department is able to supply hardly 90 to 100 lt per day at present. He said power shortage and low voltage is the major problem which is affecting the supply position in urban as well as rural areas.
“Our major pumping stations like Sitlee near Nagrota bypass, Boria near Bagh-e-Bahu, Dhonthli (Panjtirthi), Company Bagh near main Tawi bridge and Muthi (Akhnoor Road) are mainly dependent on power supply. These five stations have to feed nearly 206 tube wells/ reservoirs. Minimum 20-hour power supply per day is required to these stations to ensure smooth supply of water in city which is not possible under existing grim power supply position,’’ Mr Dogra maintained.
Replying to another question, the Chief Engineer said due to long power cuts and low voltage, the water supply is badly affected. He said over 206 Tube wells were dependent on power supply. On an average two to three of them remain out of order due to mechanical fault and get affected due to power curtailment. Low voltage is yet another problem. It aggravates the problem during hot summer days and the pumps go out of order. He disclosed that over 56 water tankers have also been deployed in Jammu city and nearly 100 in entire Jammu region to cater to the need of the people during these hot summer days. However, the Chenab water supply is the only way to provide relief to the people of Jammu, he added.
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