Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, June 20: Government today said that Centre has approved Phase-1 of flood management on river Jhelum at a cost of Rs. 399.9 crore and the Department has to complete all the works within next 2 years.
In a written reply to a question of MLA Mohammad Akbar Lone in Lower House, Minister incharge PHE, I&FC Department stated that the comprehensive project priority works of flood management on river Jhelum phase-1 costing Rs. 399.29 crores including the repairs on the embankments of river Jhelum and flood spill channels.
“The reasons for not undertaking the works were that the project was not approved by the GoI. The project has now been approved and the department has to complete the works within two years and work will start during the current financial year,” the Minister stated.
He said the department has already deposited Rs. 35.33 crore with collector land acquisition for land compensation but we have no alternative land for construction of houses or other structures for the land holder.
In another written reply to a question of MLA Krishan Lal in Lower House, the Minister said 60 works were executed in 2014-15 under Chhamb constituency including Pargwal, Bakore, Damtur, Indri Pattan and Gujral area.
In another reply to a question of Jewan Lal Lower House Minister in charge PHE, I&FC Department stated about 5 hectares of agricultural land has been washed away in village Guduflal, Tehsil Billawar due to the floods in Ujh River during September-October, 2014
“Compensation amounting to Rs. 0.488 lakhs has been paid to 10 sufferers for loss/ damage of houses. Compensation of land including loss of crops has been worked out and an amount of Rs. 98, 68,050 has been projected for payment as compensation to sufferers,” the Minister stated.
In another written reply to another question by MLA M Y Tarigami in Lower House, the Minister stated that the department has devised the mechanism for protection and reclamation of land by way of training of Nallahs/ river which includes construction of protection bunds, crate work and channelization by using the excavated material for strengthening of embankments.
The Minister further stated that projects costing Rs. 24.90 Cr was formulated and cleared by state Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) in its 8th meeting. “But the project could not be submitted to the GoI for funding/ approval due to the change in the guidelines under Flood Management Programme (FMP) by Ministry of Water Resources, GoI i.e. funding pattern from 10:90( State: Centre) to 30:70. Now again the Ministry of water resources, GoI has approved the funding pattern from 10:90 to 20: 80. The project is now to be recasted as per the new guidelines and shall be submitted for approval during the current financial year,” he said.
“In addition, after the floods of September, 2014, breaches have been restored under SDRF at an estimated cost of Rs 518.31 lakhs and Rs. 527.24 lakhs on the Veshnow Nallah (left) and Veshnow Nallah( right) side. Moreover, under permanent restoration works to the tune of Rs. 410.94 lakhs have been executed on Veshnow Nallah,” the Minister stated.
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