Only discussions in official meetings, no positive development on any aspect

Development of River Tawi front on Sabarmati pattern

*Abandoned Barrage Project hurdle in work on pilot stretch

Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Oct 4: Due to non-seriousness of the State administration and lack of coordination between different Government departments, there is absolutely no progress on any aspect of the much-hyped project of developing River Tawi front on the pattern of Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad.
Moreover, nobody in the Housing and Urban Development Department is in a position to specify the time-frame for start of work even on pilot stretch of 1.5 kilometres on the ground that this aspect is linked with re-start of work on River Tawi Barrage Project, which stands abandoned during the past quite long time.
The plan of developing River Tawi front on the pattern of Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad was mooted by the PDP-BJP Coalition Government in 2015 and thereafter it was decided to rope in Sabarmati River Front Development Corporation for conducting survey and preparation of Detailed Project Report.
This exercise took unreasonably long time and finally the Detailed Project Report (DPR) was submitted to the Union Ministry of Water Resources and River Development through Central Water Commission on January 4, 2017 for approval and release of funds. However, the Ministry asked for bifurcation of DPR and also raised some other queries so as to avoid confusion at the later stage.
Thereafter, the DPR was split into two components—protection of Tawi River in Jammu city at a cost of Rs 375.732 crore and conservation of Tawi River at a cost of Rs 31.96 crore. Accordingly, bifurcated DPRs along with replies to the comments/observations of the FM Wing of Ministry of Water Resources were sent to the Central Water Commission vide communication No. VC/POS/2018/86-89 dated April 11, 2018.
On the instructions of the Union Ministry, the Housing and Urban Development Department even approved the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department of the State for grant of No-Objection Certificate so as to avoid any hurdle vis-a-vis forest clearance at the later stage.
“Since then there is no positive development on any aspect and this is the clear indication that Housing and Urban Development Department has failed to chase the vital project with the Union Water Resources Ministry as well as Central Water Commission”, official sources told EXCELSIOR, adding “only discussions have been held on the project in the official meetings during the past one and half year but no serious attempts were made to get the project approved for funding”.
Had there been proper coordination between Housing and Urban Development, Irrigation and Flood Control and Forest Departments some positive developments could have taken place on the project, which has the potential to change the outlook of Jammu city, sources said.
The most shocking aspect is that even work on 1.5 kilometre stretch of River Tawi from downstream of Bikram Chowk up to 4th Tawi Bridge could not be started by the Jammu Development Authority till date.
“It is not feasible to start work on this stretch till the completion of work on River Tawi Barrage Project, which will lead to creation of artificial lake”, sources said, adding “the scope of work may increase or change with the creation of artificial lake and strengthening of embankments by the Irrigation and Flood Control Department as such it is not advisable to start work on pilot stretch at present”.
It is pertinent to mention here that in view of abnormal rates quoted by the bidders during the 3rd round of tenders for the pilot stretch fresh tenders were floated reducing the scope of work.
“Financial bids of technically responsive bidders after evaluation by the consultants were opened on December 28, 2018 and accordingly placed before the State level committee for approval, which is still awaited in view of hanging fate of River Tawi Barrage Project”, sources said, adding “due to all these reasons, the fate of the River Tawi Front Development Project, which is of immense importance, is hanging in balance”.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the major components of the project are river protection works, water treatment from nullahs feeding River Tawi, development of reclaimed land parcels into flower gardens and bio-diversity parks etc, tourists related facilities like coffee shops, library, book shops, food coats and restaurants etc and commercial development.

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