B D Mal Barna
The construction of the Ans Irrigation Canal project was taken up in the early 80’s but, its completion does not appear in near future. A brief history of this project as given in the tender document is mentioned in the following paragraphs.
The J&K state being poor in terms of per capita income, it lags behind in industrial development and therefore rural economy is dependent on agriculture based production. At the same time, Indus water treaty with Pakistan, restricts utilization of major river water. Though Jammu And Kashmir State is the largest state of Indian union in terms of area 222,800sq km, but cultiable area is very small as compared to the total area. The total area of the Rajouri Distt. is 253340 hectares of which 52,973 hectares is cultivable (20%). Out of the cultivable land, 7721 hectares is irrigated (about 14% of cultivable area 3% of the total geographical area). The most of the area is hilly and semi-hilly belt which is deprived of irrigation facility.
The Government intends to accelerate development in all spheres and irrigation is given top priority. The villagers of Sankari, Peesi, Gaktrote,Tar, kasha, Merenagrota etc etc, come under kandi belt. Irrigation in these areas is done from kandi Nalas but because of being deficit in water it cannot cater the irrigation needs of the small land available conceding to the genuine demand of poor people of the area, it is proposed to take surplus water from river Ans. The river carries discharge of 300 cusecs during summer and about 50 cusecs during winter.
As per the project report, ground survey and geotechnical survey were done by the Engineers of the Irrigation department and Geologist of Geology and Mining of J&K state about 40 years back. The project consisted of 6.933 Km Canal and 1.368 km long water tunnel. The department took up the excavation of Canal and tunnel works. Excavation of the Canal was taken up almost all along the Canal length and water tunnel work was also taken up from both P1 and P2 sides. P1 side tunnel was excavated for about 67 m length and from p2 side 200 m in length. During the excavation of the tunnel from the p2 side, tunnel face and tunnel collapsed. Due to collapse of tunnel and may be some other reasons, further excavation of the project area was suspended in 1983. Subsequently geotechnical investigation work was given to Geology and Mining. After the survey, Geologists of Geology and mining shifted the P2 portal side about 800 m left site of the original P2 side where good rock is available. Further irrigation department had given the geotechnical investigation to M/S RITES and WAPCO, sometime during early nineties. After this, what happened to this Canal project only irrigation department knew? But after two decades that is during the year 2012, irrigation Department prepared project report and floated the tenders for the construction of Ans Canal project.
Though the author visited the road area between Rajouri and Mohr many times along with BRO Engineers and heard about the Ans/ Kandi Canal but did not know the exact locations of the project components. Now, after the floating the tender by irrigation department in November 2012, the author visited the project sites with one interested company on 3rd December 2012 and again in august 2013.
During the site visit, it was observed that intake area where a barrage/water diversion proposed is located in Dogra Slates consisting of Quartzite’s, Slates and phyllites which appeared fresh and hard along both the banks of Ans river. About 6.933 km long Canal is proposed which gradually turns towards western side where small ridge is present. This ridge has to be crossed by about 1.368 km long water tunnel to take the water up to needy villagers. During the reconnaissance along the Canal section to tunnel exit, it was recorded that slates phyllites, Quartzite’s and Murree rocks consisting of clay shale, clay stone, silt stone and sand stone shall meet along the Canal and water tunnel. Murrees are separated from Dogra slates by a week zone that is Murree Thrust or reverse fault. The width of this fault varies from 200-300m and trends NW – SE direction that is across the river and Canal and passes along the P2 side of the water tunnel. Due to this week zone along the P2 side of tunnel, excavated tunnel length was collapsed during 1982-83 and work remained suspended till date.
After the visit, Author submitted two small reports to the concerned company for further action. In these reports various geotechnical problems, remedial measures and some modification along the tunnel alignment were suggested, keeping in view geotechnical and economic considerations. It was reported that tenders were floated again and again by the Department due to lack of response from companies. Mean while Irrigation Minister was transferred and new Minister took over the charge. New Minister also kept the tenders pending and again new tenders were floated in Aug. 2013 and on wards. But till date no decision has been taken place to fullfill the old demands of the poor people of the area. This indicates the efficiency of the Irrigation Department and J&K government. This is only one example out of many other schemes/projects laying dead with Jammu and Kashmir Govt.
(The author is retired Director of Engineering Geology wing of GSI)
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