Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 1: In a major development that will benefit State immensely, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab Governments today resolved major issues pertaining to Shahpur Kandi Project and decided to execute fresh agreement after addressing some minor irritants and completing pending procedural formalities. The fresh pact is likely to be signed by the Chief Ministers of both the States in the month of November this year.
Authoritative sources told EXCELSIOR that a delegation of Punjab Government led by Chief Secretary, Sarvesh Kaushal and comprising Secretary Irrigation K S Pannu, OSD (Legal) to the Punjab Chief Minister and Chief Engineer, Shahpur Kandi Project, Punjab had a detailed meeting with the Chief Secretary of J&K, B R Sharma, Secretary, Department of Law, Mohd Ashraf Mir and Secretary, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Parvez Malik at Srinagar this evening.
During the meeting all the major issues pertaining to Shahpur Kandi Project were deliberated upon and sorted out by both the sides and it was decided that minor irritants brought to fore by Collector Land Acquisition, Basohli would be resolved before October 23, when the top brass of both the States would meet again and thereafter steps would be initiated for signing of fresh agreement.
Sources revealed that Punjab Government has agreed to construct balance 2.3 kilometer canal from Shahpur Kandi Project to Basantpur and with this decision J&K would save huge amount which was proposed to be spent on construction of balance portion of canal. Moreover, the neighboring State, while softening its stand on the project, has also agreed to construct siphon for discharge of 690 cusecs of water in Lakhanpur lift irrigation scheme.
As far as share of power is concerned, the Punjab Government has conveyed that it would supply 20% of the generated electricity to J&K at the rate of Rs 3.50 per unit, sources said while disclosing that project would generate 600 Mega Watts of electricity as such the decision would be of immense benefit for Jammu and Kashmir.
Stating that positive decisions were also taken in respect of pending compensation and jobs to the eligible land oustees, sources said that Punjab Chief Secretary agreed to provide required funds in this regard, adding he conveyed to the Chief Secretary of J&K that jobs would be provided as per the eligibility of the affected persons.
The meeting concluded with the decision that Punjab Government would shortly provide designs of the project for the technical vetting by the J&K Government for its satisfaction so that in future there remains no issue between J&K and Punjab on this project.
Before October 23 when the Chief Secretaries of both the States would meet again, the technical vetting of the design would be conducted and issues brought to fore by the Collector Land Acquisition, Basohli vis-à-vis some villages sorted out”, sources said, adding the Law Department was also asked to furnish the legal opinion after considering all the affidavits furnished by Punjab Government to the Supreme Court before October 23.
Making it clear that J&K would go for fresh agreement on the project, sources said, “after October 23 meeting, all the relevant details would be placed before the State Cabinet for final decision and thereafter Chief Ministers of both the States would sign the fresh agreement, which is likely in the month of November this year”.
It is pertinent to mention here that Government of J&K signed an agreement in the year 1979 for setting up of the Thien Dam Project on River Ravi and Shahpur Kandi Dam, a balancing reservoir. The Thien Dam was completed and commissioned in 2000. However, Shahpur Kandi Dam Project could not be started for various cogent reasons for sometime.
The construction work on Shahpur Kandi Dam Project came to a halt after Punjab Government ‘terminated’ the agreement of 1979 by way of Punjab Termination of Agreement Act, 2004. However, Punjab Chief Minister, Prakash Singh Badal in the month of July this year conveyed to the J&K Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed that 1979 agreement has not been affected by the Act of 2004. He, at the same time, even offered to execute fresh agreement.
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