Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, June 2: While Asian Development Bank (ADB) has refused funding to the Rs 1008 crore Chenab Water Supply Project to Greater Jammu, the city is still facing a shortfall of nearly 25 MGD (25 lakh gallons) of drinking water per day.
Authoritative sources told the Excelsior that despite the clearance by the State Cabinet during NC-Congress regime, this mega water supply project which was aimed at catering the needs of the people of Jammu city in next 30 years and prepared by ERA, has been shelved after ADB refused funding despite the fact that all the initial hurdles related to water lifting and land requirement from Irrigation and Flood Control department in Akhnoor area were cleared by the State. The ADB had already fixed the completion target as December 2017 for the Phase-Ist of the project worth Rs 700 crore, the sources said.
Sources further revealed that the ADB which apparently had made up mind to reject this project, raised objections for environment impact study by the agency. It was not required as this project pertained to just lift drinking water from the river for public. It further objected that so much of time has been consumed by the agency in preparing DPR and land acquisition, therefore the project would not be completed before targeted period of 2016. On these grounds the funding for the first phase was refused.
A top official in ERA disclosed that Government is very serious in completion of this project and with the help of Govt of India, the State is trying to rope in Japan International Corporation Agency (JAICA) for funding this mega project. The revised cost of the project is said to have put at round Rs 880 crore.
He said Pakistan was opposed to this project despite the fact that there was no violation of Indus Water Treaty as the water being lifted was meant for drinking purposes. It is believed that using influence of one of its members in ADB, the Pakistan tried to scuttle this project.
Incharge Chief Engineer PHE Jammu Prem Nath when contacted told that Department is presently providing nearly 45 MGD of water per day to the population of over 13 lakh in Jammu city. He said the net requirement of water for the existing city population is around 47.5 MGL per day. There is still shortfall of about 2.5 MGD (25 lakh gallons) of water per day in Jammu city.
He however, claimed that with the augmentation works being executed at Sitlee, Muthi, Bahu Fort and Sainik Colony, this shortfall will be overcome. He said the requirement of water in Jammu per house- hold is nearly 135 Lt per day and the department is unable to meet the target at present. He said power curtailment and low voltage is the major problem which is affecting the supply position in urban and semi urban as well as rural areas of Jammu. He pointed out that major pumping stations like Sitlee near Nagrota bypass, Boria near Bagh-e-Bahu, Dhounthli (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. During summer months water table recedes and the supply position also get affected. About 50 odd water tankers are also pressed into service to meet the water requirement during peak summer days in parts of Jammu city and adjoining areas.
Replying to another question, the Chief Engineer said due to long power cuts and low voltage, the water supply is badly affected during peak summers every year. He said over 200 Tube wells were dependent on power supply.
On an average two to three of them remain out of order due to mechanical faults and get affected due to power curtailment. Low voltage is yet another problem and it aggravates the problem during hot summer days every year and the pumps go out of order. He said there is water leakage/ wastage in the form of constructions/ washing vehicles/ watering lawns etc. It is also needed to be checked in future. He claimed that nearing 30 % water leakage has been observed. There is no metering of drinking water supply in Jammu and Government is thinking on the issue.
Meanwhile, sources in the PHE department said that since river Tawi has been found inadequate to meet the demand of water supply in fast expanding Jammu city in next 2-3 decades. The Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA) prepared the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Ist phase of the Chenab Water project. The designed period of the Ist phase was next 15 years and the second phase for the next additional 15 years. In Phase-I, the PHE authorities planned to lift 225 MLD of water from river Chenab. It was planned to dig intake water channel about 70 mt downstream 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 sources further disclosed that water by gravity from this point will be taken to Muthi (Jammu) Central Pumping Station for storage, through large pipes of 1.8 mt 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.
From the Muthi central storage point, the water is planned to be taken to Narwal pumping station and Belicharna with gravity. The water stored there will be supplied to the areas like Bathindi, Sunjuwan, Channi Himmat, Sainik Colony, Greater Kailash, Gangyal, Chatha, Raipur, Satwari, Jeevan Nagar, Airport area etc.
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