Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, May 21: The artificial lake project worth Rs 70 crore on river Tawi in the winter capital city here is unlikely to meet July 2013 deadline as the flow of funds has almost been stopped and the work is also going on snail’s pace on the remaining gated structures of the barrage.
As it took nearly six months time to the concerned agency to raise six gated structures from 19 to 25 on the river bed on Nikki Tawi side up to now, it was enough indicative that work is unlikely to be completed by ending July on remaining six gated structures besides launching gates and raising gang way over the gate in at least next over six to seven months. The commission of this prestigious lake project is even unlikely by November 2013.
In November 2012, the then minister in-charge PHE, I&FC Taj Mohi-ud-Din and even the Chief Engineer, Irrigation K K Gupta had claimed that all civil works will be completed four months ahead of schedule of July 13 but six gated structure, indicating nearly 40 to 45% work on Nikki Tawi side was still incomplete. They are unlikely to finish this work even before July ending.
While all the eleven gated-structures along Baddi Tawi (Bhagwati Nagar side) of the river have been completed, out of the total 20 such gated structures on Nikki Tawi (Beli Charana side), fourteen are now ready while work on the remaining six structures is going on. The Department of Irrigation and Flood Control (J&K) is monitoring the entire work on the project, the construction of auto-mechanically operated gated-barrage having length of 370 mts and height of 4 mts with sluice gates across river Tawi, 900 meters down stream of the main Tawi bridge with RCC base, spill way, gang way, guide bunds etc for creation of pondage up to Gujjar Nagar bridge, is being executed by Hyderabad based M/S GVR Infra Project Ltd company.
The sources in the department said that due to stoppage of flow of funds after March, the pace of work on the project has gone slow. Due to non-availability of funds, the agency was carrying on the work at snails pace while it was earlier being executed on double shift basis. It said even over 50 % of land acquired by the department on the left bank of river Tawi has not yet been handed over to the Tourism Department for carrying on further works of beautification/raising park despite the fact that sufficient funds were kept at the disposal of Tourism Department to complete the project. If the funds were not made available, the project is unlikely to be commissioned during this year.
Chief Engineer, I&FC, K K Gupta associated with the project told the Excelsior that all the 11 gated structures on Baddi Tawi side, having total length of barrage nearly 130 mts, have been completed. The process of mechanical works which include, fitting of gates and its operation system with pulleys etc has been started on that side. The gates are being fabricated at the site and they will be operated upon manually as well as automatically. He said all these gates of one side are ready and the work of launching of gates will be started by the end of this month on Baddi Tawi side. Over 95 civil works on this side stood completed while on Nikki Tawi side, about 65% work has been executed. He claimed that on Nikki Tawi side, 35 % civil works and 60 % mechanical works are yet to be performed.
At least 2 months time is needed for mechanical works also and if rainy season affected the progress, the project is unlikely to meet the deadline. It may go up to October or November. “It will be our utmost effort to complete the task before ending July,” he maintained.
Replying to another question regarding paucity of funds, Mr Gupta disclosed that after March ending this problem is faced in every sector. Up to now there was no such problem but it may be experienced if the funds are not received with in next two-three weeks. He said the GVR agency has performed work worth Rs 10.5 crore and they are after money. The funds the tune of Rs 1.3 crore were received recently and it will not be fair to say that work has been suspended. He claimed that work on the project was going on and his team of engineers was supervising the over all work. When asked there was no work going on when the Excelsior team visited the site during the day today, Mr Gupta said that batching plant of the GVR agency has gone out of order for the last couple of days. The experts from Delhi had been summoned and it is likely to be repaired by this evening. He claimed that from tomorrow onward the normal work will start and some additional workers are also being deployed there on remaining pillars.
While responding to another question, the Chief Engineer said that length of barrage on the Nikki Tawi side is more, about 240 mts. There are twenty such gates with dimensions of 10 mts width and 4 mts height each. 14 gated structures have been completed. Total length of barrage/ lake will be 1540 mts, up to Gujjar Nagar bridge while the pondage of nearly 0.0011 Million Acre Feet (MAF) water will be created. In case of flood, all the gates will be opened and it will take three and half days to again create pondage up to 4 mts height, he added.
He also claimed that this Rs 70 crore project is coming up with Rs 25 crore Central assistance, Rs 25 crore is awarded by the 13th Finance Commission while rest, Rs 20 crore have been arranged from the State Planning Department. The work was started on July 22, 2010 on the project and till date, funds to the tune of Rs 41 crore have been spent on it. Out of the Rs 25 cr 13th FC share, hardly Rs 6.25 crore has been received so far while rest of the amount is pending. When that share of over Rs 19 crore is received from Centre, the progress will further improve.
When asked that some big drains/nallahs of the city are still directly pouring into the river and they may create pollution in the lake in future, the Chief Engineer said, “We have requested the UEED and the Housing and Urban Development Department to divert these `nallahas’ to the proposed sewerage plant near Bhagwati Nagar. The UEED authorities have assured us to complete this task before the commissioning of the lake. The State Tourism Department is creating beautiful park to attract tourists and other city people to this spot. The lake will also cause impact on the surrounding temperature during summers,” Mr Gupta added.
To yet another question, regarding protection of 4th bridge on river Tawi which is hardly 50 mts down ward the concrete structure (bund), Mr Gupta said entire riverbed base near 4th bridge about 30 mts in width, has been made of concrete and a slanted structure on the river bed near bridge (upward side) has been raised so as to slow down the flow of flood water and weaken the currents so as to protect the base and pillars of bridge. He said sluice gates will be used to allow discharge of dirty water and flush out silt etc and in case of rains and flood, all the gates will be opened.
Follow our WhatsApp channel