J&K to soon get its share of water from Ranjit Sagar Dam: Taj

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, June 5: The Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Taj Mohi-u-din today inaugurated newly constructed Lift Irrigation Scheme at Kothey Saini completed at a cost of Rs 55.11 lakh under AIBP.
The Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Bishnah Ashwani Sharma, panchs, Sarpanchs, prominent citizens and a large number of people besides Chief Engineer PHE B R Dogra, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Ashwani Sharma, Chief Engineer, Ravi Tawi Irrigation Virender Badyal, SE Hydraulic K. K. Gupta, XEn Sunil Gupta and other senior functionaries were also present at the inaugural ceremony.
The 10 cusecs discharge capacity lift irrigation installed on the right bank of Aik Nallah about 24 kilometers from Jammu city near Kothey Saini would provide better irrigation facilities to about 310 acre highly fertile land in the area.
It was said the additional facility of irrigation would enable the farmers to diversify and multiply their crops fetching them greater returns.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister listed numerous newly completed and under construction irrigation projects in various parts of Jammu and adjoining districts. He said that the Government was paying special attention to augment the irrigation facilities in the State to achieve the goal of self sufficiency in the food grain production. He said that all available resources in highly productive areas of Jammu, Samba, Kathua and other districts are being utilized to provide much better irrigation facilities to the farmers.
Referring to the Tawi Barrage project, he said that the work on this prestigious project was in full swing which on completion, besides augmenting the irrigation facilities, would add to the beauty of Jammu city with the emergence of about 2 kilometres lake downstream the River Tawi.
The Minister also informed that Government was vigorously pursuing the matter of sharing of the irrigation water as provided under the agreement with the Punjab Government. He said the J&K would claim its share from the Ranjit Sagar as the remaining portion of Ravi Canal upstream Basantpur was being constructed from Satwain village in Kathua district to harness state’s share of water.
Earlier, the Minister conducted surprise inspection of the office of the Assistant Executive Engineer PHE Sub-Division Bishnah on the complaints of locals against the engineer regarding his habitual absence from the office.
The Minister instructed the concerned engineer to remain punctual to his duty and work dedicatedly for providing better services to the people.