Excelsior Correspondent/UNI
CHANDIGARH/JAMMU, Sept 8: The Governments of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir today formally agreed to resume the work on the long stalled Shahpur Kandi project.
The ‘Ratification of Agreement’ was exchanged between Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Punjab Irrigation and Power Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh, who was representing Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who is away to the United Kingdom.
Gurjeet led a high powered delegation which included senior officials from the departments of power and irrigation.
The decision for resumption of work was ratified by the Cabinets of two respective States and the ratification of agreement was exchanged today.
While the Punjab cabinet had ratified the decision long back to resume the work on the Shahpur Kandi project, the Jammu and Kashmir Government ratified the decision last month.
The power project will have a capacity of 206 MWs.
The project will be monitored by the Central Water Commission.
The JK Government had objected and stalled the work on the project about three years ago.
It was after sustained deliberations between the two governments and the intervention of the Prime Minister’s Office that the two states finally agreed to resume the work.
Giving details, Gurjeet said it was mutually beneficial for both the States of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
He said not only will it help in generation of extra power but will also lead to maximum use of the water from the Ravi river, which is otherwise flowing into Pakistan.
Rana also expressed his gratitude to the JK CM, Mehbooba Mufti saying, she was instrumental in helping to revive the project, which besides being beneficial to the two states, is of national importance.
“This was possible only with the cooperation of Mehbooba and the personal initiative of the Prime Minister of India,” he said while assuring that Punjab government was not only committed to complete the project but also fulfill all the commitments and obligations.
An official handout issued by the J&K Government said: Minister for Irrigation of Punjab Government, Rana Gurjit Singh, who was on a visit to the Valley, called on Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti today and discussed several issues concerned with Ranjit Sagar dam and construction of Shahpur Kandi barrage in Punjab.
The Chief Minister impressed upon the visiting Minister that Jammu & Kashmir needs to be treated as per the agreement signed between the two States in January, 1979 under the leadership of then Chief Ministers late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah and Prakash Singh Badal.
She said the State has suffered huge losses due to non availability of water from the Ranjit Sagar dam in irrigation, agriculture production and power generation. She hoped that the same is made up in future and the State is duly compensated.
Mehbooba hoped that Punjab Government would exhibit all generosity in the matter and whatever is required would be done to do away with whatever has happened in the past.
The Punjab Irrigation Minister assured the Chief Minister that time bound redressal of the concerns of the State would be done by his Government.
Deputy Chief Minister, Dr. Nirmal Singh; Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Shyam Choudhary and senior officers of both States were present on the occasion.
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