Shiban Khaibri
Was it Jagmohan Malhotra, the then Governor of our state who in 1986 had approved of an artificial lake over the river Tawi to be a thing of specialty for the people of Jammu as also for the visiting tourists ? Naturally, the people here had built up emotional attachment with this project to get a slight feel of redressing of the perpetual discrimination otherwise meted out to this vital part of the state? Has Jammu city itself no promise to offer many spots both as tourist attractions and some measure of entertainment to the people especially children as the scope for more parks, developed river banks with added sports and entertainment facilities, is getting marginalized both by shrinking of space as well as willfully neglecting the existing ones because of lack of maintenance and development. How many water bodies, ponds with many fowls and water birds, wells in and around city and the like were allowed to die gradually, the marks or signs of whom too are vanished which glaringly speaks about the callous attitude of the successive state governments and the stoic silence by many social organizations. What link or attachment with nature, of whatever reasonable magnitude, are we thus giving to our progenies , next generations may look today of no significance but tomorrow it could be too late to do anything about it. Perhaps , keeping this vital aspect in mind, building of an artificial lake was mooted out. Its attached barrage had a wonderful plan of installation of 31 gates, 11 in upper portion and the remaining 20 in lower portion. These gates, it was envisaged, could be opened in case of floods.
The project, apart from tourism related had many other indirect benefits like for providing irrigation facilities to a larger chunk of agricultural land and for paddy growing land otherwise in need of sufficient irrigation facilities. This lake also could augment the water flow of the Tawi canal by lifting 700 cusecs of water from river Tawi and recharging the canal to provide much required irrigation for over 8000 kanals of agricultural land. The proposed lake faced many hiccups initially and a delay of many years was caused, however, the construction process started in 2008. Needless to recall, the project has to its credit the technical approval from The Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi as also the approval from The Central Water Commission. Besides, a team of three “experts” of the Indus Water Commission (IWC) from the neighbouring country Pakistan too had visited the project of the artificial lake after they initially got jittery about the likelihood of some portion of the water feared to be stored, though under the Indus Water Treaty some storage of water was permissible. They were satisfied that the proposed project did not violate any provisions of the IWT. In other words, “no objection ” even from them was seen in this artificial lake project.
In 2012 , it was expected that the dream project was nearer to completion and would be all ready by July- August 2013. Since most of the projects run by the state very often jump the deadlines of completion, this project, also could not be an exception. From 2013 to 2014 and finally June 2015 was expected to be the time of its completion. Contrary to expectations, shortly after taking over as the Chief Minister of the state, Mufti Mohamad Sayeed decided about shelving the project. However, despite promises of all help from the centre, it is intriguing to note that the government has decided about scraping of this dream project which in its own right would have meant a turnaround for the tourism – Hotel industry in this vital part of the state. It is learnt that nearly Rs. 40 crores have already been spent and very little work was left to be done to give the project a green signal to get commissioned.
There are some fundamental questions bound to be raised in respect of the ill advised decision to strangle this project when it had almost reached its completion stage. How could the otherwise funds starving coffers of the state just afford to waste the huge amount without assigning reasons for rescinding the project? Are there any political or security reasons for shelving the project which are not shared with the people of Jammu? Are not the citizens of Jammu justified, as such, to blame the Kashmir centric political leadership of blatant and flagrant discrimination? Equally, is not the Jammu centric political leadership as alliance partner in the government equally to be blamed? Are overlooking of some feasibility provisions of the project not matching with technical and utility grounds ignored earlier also the reasons of scrapping the project? Is all of a sudden decision of stopping work on the project not loaded with more suspicion than any justification? Does it not amount to belying of the assurances given by the present state government that Jammu was going to be developed as an independent tourist destination for which the Tawi Lake project was indeed a top flagship project? Last but not the least, has the scrapping of the project got to do something with pampering Pakistan as the stand taken by the then Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed had in May 2015 itself given indications of its shelving citing “feasibility” grounds?
Artificial Lake project was an integrated project undertaken jointly by departments of Irrigation and Flood Control, Housing and Urban Development and also the Tourism. Phase 2 of the project comprise beautification and embankment works, treatment or diversion of various sewage channels going direct into the river and various associated works which also probably stand stopped. The state government could do well to have the expert advice and technical knowhow from Sabarmati River Development Corporation for beautification of the banks of River Tawi , building of pathways and walking trails on both sides used by morning walkers and even by tourists , children etc. Those who had seen Sabarmati river prior to its beautification in its pitiable condition, as had this writer seen , and its total change into a spot worth visiting, could visualize what could our River Tawi look like after receiving the treatment , Sabarmati got. Jammu, very urgently needs tourist spots, water sports, parks, children and women exclusive parks, entertainment cum eating points on both sides of Tawi and the like as there is vast potential inherent in this part of the state. The political leadership and the authorities need to take initiatives.
It shall evince an avid follow-up by the people of Jammu of the prospects of reviewing the ill conceived and ill advised decision to do away with the flagship project which had promised their “change of destiny”. The people, with the current type of the structure of the Government with maximum participation from the elected representatives from Jammu , were never expecting shelving of this prestigious project. The decision has surely belied their expectations more so, when the tall promises, deadlines and extended deadlines in respect of the project had been made vivid and look quite serious but they all in fact proved pusillanimous and virtually nothing beyond “lollypops” which looks intriguing. Unless cogent and convincing reasons for its shelving are shared by the government with the people without any ado, the feeling of being discriminated against shall get further deeply rooted in the minds which should never be allowed to take place. Jammu , Kashmir and Ladakh are to be treated at par and on equal footing in matters of importance and economic development to make partaking in the cumulative progress and welfare measures on principles of equality, a reality rather than a casualty. The Government, therefore, must forthwith review its decision and see the project is completed fast by restarting the remaining work on it. That would augur well.
feedbackexcelsior@gmail.com
Follow our WhatsApp channel
