State claims its share of Rs 8500 cr from Punjab
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 13: The State Government will go ahead with its Ranjit Sagar dam- Basantpur canal project taking out its share of 1200 cusecs of water from the dam shortly as the Punjab Government did not object to the proposed Rs 245 crore project of the J&K Government at the North Zone Consultative Committee (NZCC) meet held at Chandigarh today.
Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control (J&K) Taj Mohiuddin who was part of J&K delegation headed by DyCM, Tara Chand, told the Excelsior that since the Government of Punjab did not raise any objection during the NZCC meet over the issue, the J&K would go ahead with its proposed project to construct 9 km canal from the Ranjit Sagar dam at Satwain up to Basantpur near Lakhanpur in district Kathua. He said the J&K has already made its strong claim of Rs 8500 crore with the Punjab Government which include Rs 2500 crore loss caused to the State by denying it power share from Ranjit Sagar (Thein) dam near Basohli on river Ravi.
Referring to the loss caused to the J&K on account of non irrigation of its vast area due to denial of 1200 cusecs of water share from Ravi to Kathua and Samba areas since its agreement in 1979, the State has suffered losses of over Rs 6000 crore during these years. Punjab Government again caused breach of agreement as it refused to construct Shahpur Kandi barrage from where it had to provide J&K State its share of water of remaining 1200 cusecs. Neither J&K received 20% share of power from this dam nor adequate employment as per agreement was provided to J&K people despite the fact that over 65 % J&K area has submerged in the dam. Under these circumstances, the J&K was left with the choice to get its share of water from Ravi river itself.
Commenting on the present status of water being lifted from Ravi river by out of its total share of 1400 cusecs as per 1979 agreement, the Irrigation and PHE Minister said, “Presently we are lifting just 200 cusecs of water from Ravi and after construction of this 9 kms long canal from Satwain to Basantpur, the State will be able to get 1200 cusecs of more water. Over 6 kms length of this canal will be covered in tunnels and a power house will also be raised near Basantpur where nearly 22 MW electricity will also be generated,’’ Mr Taj added.
Replying to another question, Mr Taj said to remove the hurdles State Government has gone for amendment in Water Resources Act. An Ordinance has been brought. The State Cabinet has already approved it and the same has now been sent to the Governor for his assent. As the Governor signs it, the State would immediately commence work on this project. He said Planning department has already sanctioned Rs 20 crore as initial funds for it. Since the funds pertain to non-plan, the State has decided to utilize 10 % of the funds raised from water tax from NHPC and other organizations for the construction of this mega project in district Kathua.
Mr Taj claimed that his department has recovered Rs 748 crores as water tax from the NHPC and other agencies so far. Out of this, Rs 74 crore will be utilized for this project. So far, a total Rs 94 crore are available for the project. The tendering process would be completed shortly and the work would begin for the first phase of the project very soon. He said some other issues also pertaining to State land lying in Punjab were discussed during the NZCC meeting. Representatives from five northern states including Rajasthan and Harayana participated in the meet headed by Union Home Minister, P Chidambram today.
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