Underground water resource from which drinking water for Jammu City is obtained is depleting. At the same time the city is expanding in terms of land area and population. As such, the Greater Jammu City or the city that will be in place in future years will need much increased quantity of drinking water to be provided. Accordingly ‘Augmentation of Water Supply to Jammu City from surface water source of River Chenab’ project was conceived under Jammu and Kashmir Urban Sector Development Investment Program (JKUSDIP). The scheme envisaged lifting of surface water from river Chenab and piping it for use by the citizens of the Greater Jammu City. The State Government approached the Asian Development Bank for advancing loan to the State for financing the project. With this purpose in mind ‘Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)’ as per the Asian Development Bank Policy safeguard document was prepared. According to the IEE, the project was categorized as Category-B considering no major impacts.
However, the official mission of the ADB visited the site and conducted study of the project and re-categorized it as Category A. This has created some difficulties in the form of conducting further study and providing some more information to the ADB before it accords sanction to the required amount of loan. ADB has its own rules and standards and would obviously go by these. Category A project according to ADB carries significant adverse environmental impacts that are irreversible, diverse or unprecedented. These impacts may affect an area larger than the sites or facilities subject to physical works. As such ADB has sought Environment Impact Assessment report before funding the project. The stipulations in EIA are set forth in the guidelines of the ADB which it wants the State Government to implement or assure.
The matter when reported to the Chief Minister, invited his instructions to the concerned agencies to ensure that all required conditions are met within a short period of time and submitted to the ADB. The Chief Minister has asserted that this being a project of immense importance has to be brought to completion within shortest possible time. This reflects his sense of urgency about the project. The ADB needs fulfillment of all requisite conditions for advancing loan. These conditions are drawn keeping in mind that ADB does not want to support any project that is likely to cause harm or economic damage to those connected with water resource activity. In particular it wants to be assured that lifting of water from Chenab is not going to have adverse impact on fishermen up or downstream. It also would want to know the impact of lifting of water on the fisheries if these are maintained. Likewise it would also like to know the impact on the neighbouring country to which the water of the river ultimately flows. There are many matters pertaining to environmental impact that have to be considered before the project is launched.
ADB is an internationally reputed bank that has financially supported various mega projects around the world. We are not the only beneficiaries of its provisions. As such it has laid down a policy that caters to the requirements of the Bank in different countries and conditions. Protection of environment and monitoring of impact of projects on environment is a priority with the Bank. We think that hopefully we are meeting all the criteria laid down by the ADB. Yet the Chief Minister has taken the importance of the project into account and issued instructions to the concerned at Government level that the conditions set forth by AD are fulfilled and submitted in proper time. No chance is to be given to the Bank that might lead to rejection of the loan. This is what the CM has precisely emphasized upon.
The last word in this matter which we are induced to say is that the Greater Jammu City will be housing a population to the tune of 1.5 million people in next few years. The present arrangement of supply of drinking water is far short of our requirement. Unless a major drinking water supply scheme like the one under consideration is executed in time, the situation will become critical. Before that happens we must be prepared to face the challenge. The CM’s concerns are very genuine.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel