Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 13: As the completion of formalities are in process, the work on much talked about Rs 275 crore, Ravi Irrigation Project, in Basantpur area of Basohli tehsil of Kathua district will start soon.
According to official sources, the State Cabinet has approved a Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the nine kilometer long canal with its Headworks at Thein -the upstream of Ranjit Sagar Dam and tail at Basantpur.
The sources said the tender for 110 meter initial intake structure has been floated and the work on this portion of canal will be taken up in hand soon. The area is free from forest and there is no problem in this portion of project as no environmental clearance is needed in this area, sources added.
Sources said Rs 8 crore will be earmarked on the construction of this portion of canal. For the remaining portion the work will only start after seeking environmental clearance from Ministry of Forest and Environment of both State and Central Governments.
Sources said the work on the portion of project under wild life and forest will be started only after seeking the Environment Impact Report (EIR) from the Forest and Environment ministries of both Central and State Governments. In this regard the Ravi Tawi Irrigation Department- the nodal agency for construction of the project will hire a private agency to seek EIR and this agency will also get environmental clearance.
Sources said the Department has called the tenders for hiring the agency also and it has received three tenders in this regard.
Sources said that the Thein being a forests area and having a wild life sanctuary also, the Department has to seek environmental clearance for construction of the Project as per the Apex Court guidelines.
Sources said that funding for the project will be no problem as 10 percent of usage charges of the Department will go for the funding of the Project.
Sources said that as per the 1955 Government of India decision, Punjab had to release 1150 cusecs of water to J&K from Ravi river as its share. But it failed to do so and the successive State Governments also could not take up the issue with the neighbouring State forcefully with the result the State was deprived of water supply from river Ravi.
Sources said that the two lift irrigation schemes of Mahanpur and Lakhanpur which were lifting water from river Ravi for irrigation purposes in this part of State also suffered a setback with the construction of Ranjit Sagar dam, the Punjab Government was releasing water in the river Ravi on its will with the result the farmers dependent on the irrigation of Ravi canal suffered a lot.
The issue was also raised by MLA Kathua, Charanjit Singh in Legislative Assembly a number of times and farmers of the Kathua also protested against the failure of Government in getting water released from Ravi river to the State.
This forced the State Government to take the decision regarding construction of nine km long canal from upstream of Ranjit Sagar dam.
Sources said the Punjab Government in order to supply J&K its due share of 1150 cusecs of water had agreed to construct Shahpur Kandi dam but later it backtracked from the promise.
Confirming this, the Chief Engineer Ravi Tawi Irrigation, K K Gupta said that the construction work of the project is in process and work on 110 meters initial intake will be started soon.
He said on the remaining portion of canal the work will be started after seeking environmental clearance.
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