*Lack of vision of J&K authorities plays spoilsport
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, May 15: A major hurdle has cropped up in the execution of prestigious Satwain canal project of Kathua with Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) putting certain conditions before giving clearance to the project. This development has also brought to the fore the lack of vision of the concerned authorities of Jammu and Kashmir as various vital aspects relating to the project were not given required consideration before approaching the Union Ministry for approval.
This Rs 275 crore worth project of multiple benefits was cleared by the State Cabinet in its meeting held under the chairmanship of the then Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah on August 16, 2013. While giving nod to the extension of balance portion of Main Ravi Canal from Basantpur to upstream of Ranjit Sagar Dam at Satwain in Kathua district, the Cabinet had allowed the Department of Irrigation and Flood Control to utilize 10% of the water usage charges.
These charges collected by the department were deposited in a separate fund constituted by the Finance Department in J&K Bank as per the Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Amendment Act, 2012.
On November 18, 2013, EXCELSIOR through an exclusive news-item had forewarned the State Government that even after clearance of Cabinet the execution of project would get delayed in view of mandatory clearances required to be obtained from different quarters. However, despite being sounded well in time, the concerned authorities of J&K Government failed to lay required focus on various vital aspects of the project and the outcome of the same is visible in the form of conditions put forth by the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest.
Highly placed sources told EXCELSIOR that Expert Appraisal Committee for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests in its recent meeting has put certain conditions and sought clarifications on some vital issues from the J&K Government before considering the project.
“The project promoted by Ravi-Tawi Irrigation Complex envisages providing irrigation facilities in Kathua district. The project attracts ‘General Condition’ due to being in proximity of inter-state boundary (J&K and Punjab) and passing through notified Thein Conservation Reserve and as such treated as Category A”, the EAC has observed.
The project involves construction of canal to withdraw water from Ranjit Sagar Dam (Thein Dam) at Satwain to existing Basantpur Lift Station in Kathua district to provide irrigation in command area of 32186 hectares. Moreover, it also involves construction of a canal head regulator on upstream at the J&K end of Ranjit Sagar dam to divert 0.475 MAF water and construction of 9.084 kilometer of canal from upstream of Ranjit Sagar dam to existing canal at Basantpur. Even two power houses of 12 Mega Watt and 9 Mega Watt at the falls have been proposed to be constructed.
“Total land requirement for the project is nearly 18.23 hectares and involves diversion of 10.668 hectares of land of Thein Conservation Reserve”, the EAC has observed after going through the details of the project.
After long deliberations with the officers representing the J&K Government, the EAC has noted that intake structure of proposed canal of 9.084 kilometer length at Satwain is very close to core of Ranjit Sagar Dam and as such feasibility of the project needs to be studied by Geological Survey of India for its stability. “This is imperative in view of likely puncturing of rim of the reservoir”, the EAC said, adding “the recommendations of Geological Survey of India would be required to consider the case for grant of scoping clearance”.
“Withdrawal of water from the reservoir has to be in line with the water sharing agreement between the riparian states of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir and also the International Treaty as applicable”, the EAC said while seeking clarifications from the project proponents in this regard.
According to the sources, the State Government is now required to approach the Geological Survey of India with the request to study feasibility of the project and since such studies by GSI takes time, the fate of the project would remain hanging in balance for unspecified period. “Had some experts been engaged to study the project soon after its clearance by the Cabinet, the present situation could have been avoided”, they regretted.
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