No steps initiated to overcome deficiencies: CWC to HC
*Govt indifferent towards sufferings of over 40 villages
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 23: Incredible it may sound but it is a fact that bureaucratic slackness has led to the dropping of Rs 406 crore worth Detailed Project Report for River Tawi flood protection works by the Central Water Commission, which otherwise was imperative to prevent flooding of the areas situated along the banks of river and bring an end to the sufferings of vast population.
The startling revelations in this regard have been made by Deputy Director, Central Water Commission Jammu in a detailed status report filed before the High Court in compliance to the directions passed in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the inhabitants of Barjala-Khandwal and other adjoining villages, which face the brunt of floods every year.
Water is a state subject and concerned Governments plan and execute various schemes pertaining to water resources for the purpose of flood management as per their priority and requirement with their own resources. However, upon request of State/UT Government, Union Government through Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation provides financial assistance through a number of Centrally Sponsored Schemes like Flood Management Programme.
For availing financial grant under the Flood Management Programme, the proposals of State Governments, which were appraised by the competent authority and secured all mandatory clearances including clearance from the State Technical Appraisal Committee, State Flood Control Board and Advisory Committee of Department of Water Resources are considered as per guidelines and approved for Central assistance by an Empowered Committee.
The Monitoring and Appraisal Directorate, Central Water Commission Jammu, which is a field organization, helps in appraisal and monitoring of such flood management projects for release of Central assistance.
“A DPR for protection of banks of River Tawi in Jammu city Phase-I and catch water drain for Tawi River in Jammu city Phase-II (located around 5 kilometres upstream of villages Bajrala and Khandwala with estimated cost of Rs 375.732 crore and Rs 31.962 crore respectively was submitted by Jammu Development Authority (JDA) for appraisal vide letter dated April 11, 2018”, the Deputy Director, Central Water Commission Jammu said in the status report, the copy of which is available with EXCELSIOR.
He further submitted: “As per extant guidelines, the DPR was examined preliminarily and it was observed in the initial examination that besides other deficiencies basic information such as longitudinal section and layout plan was also not provided. Therefore, it was not sent to Central Water Commission Headquarters for appraisal but project authorities were informed of these observations vide letter dated May 30, 2018”.
However, due to non-compliance of these observations within a period of three months, as per extant guidelines, the project was deleted from the list of appraisal, he further informed the High Court.
“Presently as on date, there is no flood management scheme benefitting the villages of Barjala and Khandwal or at any location on River Tawi under appraisal with M&A Directorate CWC Jammu”, the Deputy Director said.
“A comprehensive solution to flooding in River Tawi may be devised considering factors such as river morphology, hydraulics, land use and hydrology etc. Such integrated and comprehensive solution may be found by undertaking model studies of the concerned river reach by expert organizations/ agencies in the field such as CWPRS Pune, NIH Roorkee or any other reputed research or educational institute such as IITs/NITs”, the officer has suggested.
He further said, “the Irrigation and Flood Control Department, which is entrusted with the flood protection work, may award the work of model study of Nikki Tawi and Baddi Tawi to one of such agencies to find permanent solution to frequent flooding and subsequent damages to the area”.
These startling revelations have clearly established that bureaucratic slackness has created hurdle in bringing an end to the sufferings of inhabitants of over 40 villages, which otherwise face brunt of devastating floods in River Tawi every year.
“The disclosure by field organization of Central Water Commission should be taken seriously by the Lieutenant Governor and Chief Secretary and all those officers who failed to act on the observations of the CWC should be punished so that in future no officer dares to adopt non-serious approach towards the sufferings of the people”, sources stressed.
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