Monitoring Committee of CWC inspects progress on Shahpur Kandi Project

Excelsior Correspondent

KATHUA, June 8: The team members of Monitoring Committee of Central Water Commission (CWC) today visited Shahpur Kandi Dam Project to inspect the status and progress of ongoing works on Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir side.
The CWC officers who visited the Dam Site includes K. Vohra, Member (WP&P), CWC, New Delhi; R. K. Pachauri, Chief Engineer, PPO, CWC, New Delhi; Shiv Nandan Kumar, Chief Engineer, IBO, CWC, Chandigarh; Ashok Jeph, Director, M&A, CWC, Chandigarh; Sanjay Kumar, Director, National Projects, CWC, New Delhi and Siddhant Azad, Assistant Director, National Projects, CWC, New Delhi.
The team also inspected Power House I & II where excavation of bed level completed and concrete is going to start soon. The team then visited Syphon/ Barrel for Kashmir Canal work on which both Punjab and J&K side is likely to be started soon.
The visiting team also took detailed review of ongoing construction work on Ravi Canal and expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved by the Revenue Department of Jammu Kashmir side for taking up the land acquisition issue on top most priority within minimum possible time.
The site for Aquaduct at Sukral Khad was so inspected and directions were passed to the executing agency to expedite the work.
The team visited Noora Bridge site where pier excavation work is going on by PWD( R&B) on J&K side instructed to expedite the progress.
The visit of CWC officers culminated with inspection of Head Regulator of Ravi Canal where work has been started.
Pertinently, the Jammu Kashmir side under Principal Secretary Jal Shakti Ashok Parmar with his counterpart from Punjab side is overseeing the implementation and execution of the project of National Importance for which regular monitoring is being done to ensure faster execution to meet timelines.
The Rs 2715.70 Crore Shahpur Kandi Dam Project once completed would provide assured irrigation water of 1150 Cusecs which will irrigate 32173 hectares of agricultural land in Kathua, Hiranagar, Samba and Vijaypur area of J&K side.
From J&K side Chief Engineer I&FC/RTIC Hamesh Manchanda, Superintending Engineer RTCC Ajay Gupta, ACR Sandeep Seointra, XEN RTIC Bharat Bhushan and from Punjab Side GM Dams S K Saluja and other senior officers of Project Authority were also present.