Neeraj Rohmetra
Jammu, Nov 17: Despite clearance of Cabinet three months back for starting construction of balance portion of Ravi Canal worth nearly Rs 275 crores, the project is likely to suffer delay in view of mandatory clearances required at different levels in the State and Centre, before the start of project.
Official sources remarked that the project is likely to suffer major hiccups as major portion of the area falls under Thay Wild Life Sanctuary in Kathua. “With the result the project would need clearances from the State Wild Life Department and the proposal would then be sent to National Board for Wildlife, which comprised of experts on the subject. Subsequently, the project has also to seek approval of Central Empowered Committee (CEC) and the Apex Court”.
“Few days back, the concerned authorities had also prepared a report seeking environment clearances from the State Wild Life Department. But, the latter has advised them to go for Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) from a third party and prepare a detailed report for muck clearance from the project”, source remarked.
“As is the case with several ongoing projects in Jammu and Kashmir, the project authorities will need to obtain the mandatory clearances before start of actual work on the project”, sources asserted.
Elaborating on the cost implication of the project, sources opined, “the total cost of the project for construction of balance portion of Ravi Canal upstream Basantpur village (Ranjit Sagar Dam) at Satwain in Kathua district is nearly Rs 400 crores. While the project involves construction of irrigation structures worth nearly Rs 275 crores, there would be need to construct two stations for power distribution costing nearly Rs 135 crores”.
In the meantime, the State Government has completed all formalities for formal launching of tenders for beginning the construction of civil work of the intake structure.
“To expedite the process for acquisition of land required for the project, the State Government had recently appointed a designated official for this purpose only. Besides, the district administration has already issued its mandatory declaration under Section 9A to facilitate the entire process and also provided them with required staff”, sources remarked.
“As formal clearances of the project will take much time, we have initiated our efforts to start civil works on the portion, which doesn’t fall under the forest area”, sources remarked.
Confirming this to EXCELSIOR, PHE Minister, Sham Lal said, “the project which had been into controversies for the past 18 years, would finally be launched soon. Though, the State suffered massive losses due to non-cooperation of Punjab Government, it would now be soon launching the project within its territory”.
“The tendering process for the intake structure will be initiated soon and all the spadework for the same had been done. Meanwhile, we shall also try to seen the necessary clearances at the earliest possible”, he said emphatically.
Commenting on the status of project, Commissioner Secretary PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Pawan Kotwal said, “tendering process for the first portion pertaining to the intake structure will be initiated soon. Simultaneously, efforts will be made to get the necessary environmental clearances for the project”.
Chief Wild Life Warden, Mr A K Singh while commenting on the status of environment clearances said, “the Department had approached us regarding the necessary clearances and we have told them to primarily get the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) done for the project and also prepare the detailed report for muck clearance”.
It is pertinent to mention that the Cabinet after thorough discussion on the memorandum of PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department had on August 17 this year accorded approval to the construction of balance portion of Ravi Canal upstream Basantpur village (Ranjit Sagar Dam) at Satwain in Kathua district at a cost of Rs 275 crore. To fund the prestigious project, the Cabinet had also authorized for utilization of 10% of the water usage charges collected by the department and deposited in a separate fund constituted by the Finance Department in J&K Bank as per the Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources (Regulation and Management) Amendment Act, 2012.
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