Land transfer for Jammu Airport expansion
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 14: The State Administrative Council (SAC) which met here under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik, accorded in principle approval to the project namely “Comprehensive Plan for Flood Management Works on Jhelum-II” costing Rs 5411.54 crore.
The project is proposed to be implemented part-wise with part-A amounting to Rs 1684.60 crore approved under PMDP and part-B for which source of funding is to be identified. The project has been formulated to achieve short term goal of mitigating the flood threat at Sangam.
The SAC directed PHE, I&FC Department to proceed with the implementation of Part A of Phase-II of the project utilizing the available funds and earnestly take up the matter with the Government of India for funding its share of Part A of Phase-II of the project. The Department was also directed to explore financing options for Part B of Phase-II of the project.
The SAC also approved constitution of a High Level Committee (HLC) for detailed examination of the DPR Phase-II, its phasing, regular follow up with Central water Commission (CWC)/Gol for its approval, identifying source of funding for part-B (of phase-II) and also regular monitoring and supervision of execution of various works under both phases of the project. The HLC shall also examine the proposal of Chief Engineer for taking up urgent works amounting to Rs. 266.57 Crore under the State share component of Phase-II.
It is noteworthy to mention here that after the devastating floods of September 2014, and on the recommendations of a High Level Committee, constituted by GoI, a multipronged strategy was adpted for flood mitigation in Kashmir valley. Accordingly, to enhance carrying capacity of Jhelum from the then 31000 cusec to 60000 cusecs, action was envisaged in two phases under PMDP. After approval of the Phase-I for Rs 399.29 crore, the DPR of Phase-II was prepared for the remaining works through WAPCOS. The said DPR namely “Comprehensive Plan for Flood Management Works on Jhelum: Phase-II” costing Rs. 5411.54 Crore has been submitted to the Central water Commission (CWC), Gol.
After detailed examination by the High Level Committee, the DPR of Phase-Il shall be submitted to the Central Water Commission, New Delhi and Ministry of Jal Shakti, Gol for funding.
Under long term measures for mitigating flood discharge of 115000 Cusecs at Sangam, the Government with ADB funding has started the “Jhelum-Tawi Flood Recovery Project’ (JTFRP) being executed by ERA. ERA with the help of international experts is conducting detailed morphological study of River Jhelum and based on the findings of the study shall prepare DPR for taking up long term measures in due course.
State Administrative Council also approved transfer of land measuring 320 Kanals and 8 Marlas, situated in village Chatha to the Animal & Sheep Husbandry Department, for relocation of Cattle Breeding and Research Farm Belicharana, in lieu of its land proposed for expansion of the Jammu Civil Airport.
It is noteworthy to mention that Belicharana Farm of the Animal & Sheep Husbandry Department is located on the northern side of the airport runway and the proposed expansion of the runway would extend to the existing Belicharana Farm. Shifting the Cattle Breeding Farm from Belicharana to some other suitable place was therefore necessitated so that the obstacles in the expansion of Jammu Airport are removed.
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