More than two years ago, the people of Jammu were promised a surprise gift. It was the artificial lake made in the bed of Tawi somewhere near Gujjar Nagar. Jammu is a landlocked region and a water body that would become a source of recreation and picnic for the residents of the city is not provided. Generally, in such regions, artificial lakes or streams and water bodies are created so that people would have opportunity of enjoyment, recreation and leisure which are essential to a society. It was in this background that the idea of creating an artificial lake on Tawi was thrown up and pursued. The Government issued instructions to concerned agencies and the survey etc. was carried out.
It will be reminded that Pakistan raised objections and claimed that creating an artificial lake on Tawi would contravene the Indus Water Treaty. Pakistan made an issue out of it despite clear clauses of the IWT. Indian authorities made it sufficiently clear that there was absolutely no violation of any agreement but Pakistan knocked at the door of the World Bank and lodged a complaint. Finally after great skulduggery, it was agreed that Pakistani observer delegation can come and examine the proposed artificial lake and convince itself that no violation was done. Their team came and was given all possible facility to conduct examination. The team still persisted with the complaint and finally the World Bank authorities, who are governing the IWT, dismissed the complaint of Pakistan. India was given the green signal to go ahead with the project of building the artificial lake.
A sum of 70 crore rupees was sanctioned by the Central Government for the project. The blue print was very comprehensive and technically well planned. In fact apart from Tawi, the Nikki Tawi was also to be harnessed for the lake. But the ticklish issue was that of the nearly a dozen nullahs those bring dirty and filthy garbage to the Tawi and pollute the water. A lake should have clean and pure water so that people can, out of recreational exercises, swim or boat in the lake. Therefore the first important stage was to divert the dirty nullahs and let the water of Tawi remain pure. Then numerous structures like gates and dams and embankment etc. had to be built to make the project viable. There is civil as well as mechanical engineering involved in the project.
However, the State Government authorities committed that the project would be completed by July 2013. The situation on the ground is that still 6 dirty nullahs remain unharnessed and many mechanical structures that should have been completed by now are incomplete. The completion of the project has been delayed and the first date line has been jumped. The second date line proposed for December 2013, too, seems impossible. Observers think that the project would not be completed before March 2014.
We know that there is hardly any project that is completed within the stipulated date. Delaying projects creates financial complications. This is also true in the case of artificial lake. Reliable sources say that owing to not releasing funds at proper time and delaying the release inordinately is the main reason why projects are delayed. We are at a loss to think that why funds are not released at proper time to avoid delay. It is also unacceptable that even after a lapse of more than two years, the nullahs bringing dirt and filth to the Tawi have not been diverted and Tawi allowed retaining pure water. We are told that about 23 crore rupees have been allotted for diversion of these nullahs. If it is so, we fail to understand why the work has not been completed.
Jammu city is expanding fast in all respects. The Chief Minister has indicated that the two capital cities need to be given proper infrastructural boost to entitle them to be called modern city. Unfortunately, Jammu city, despite its population having crossed one million, has minimal rather no recreational facilities like parks, playgrounds, modern restaurant complexes, fountains, lakes, green cover of expanding dimensions, subways, etc. If a single item like the artificial lake takes 3 to 4 years to complete, then the other projects if also taken into hand at a given time will mean that Jammu will get the shape of a modern city after at least half a century from now. This is too tardy a development. Therefore, the Government should devise a policy of bringing major projects to completion within the stipulated time.
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