Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 1: Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma on Sunday visited Nikki Tawi to assess the damage caused to Tawi Feeder Channel and other infrastructure along the banks of Nikki and Baddi Tawi due to recent heavy rain and floods, besides taking stock of restoration and prevention measures being taken up by the concerned department.
The Minister visited Nikki and Baddi Tawi Chack Lalu Shah Karanila Chack etc and took stock of restoration works being done there by Flood Control Department. He instructed the Chief Engineer, I&FC to complete these works on war footing. He was informed that recent floods have washed away large tracks and damaged the main Feeder Channel and pasture land along river Tawi in Marh block area.
The Chief Engineer, I&FC informed the Minister that damages caused to Feeder Channel in the centre of Nikki Tawi between Belicharana and Karnaila Chack has affected irrigation water supply to 3190 acres of paddy land. The island between Nikki Tawi and Baddi Tawi is upto Mukwal and has 45 revenue villages. He informed that the area having highly fertile land is badly affected due to non-supply of irrigation water for last 15 days. About 100 mts of the Channel for feeding water to island got damaged due to recent flood and restoration and the restoration work has already been started.
Sham inspected the restoration works from Baddi Tawi side and Karnaila Chack side taken up at an estimated cost of Rs.310 lakh and directed the executive agency to complete the restoration work in a time bound manner.
On noticing a number of under construction buildings close to Tawi bed, the Minister directed the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to take the matter with Revenue Department and check the land record, adding that the land may be the property of Irrigation and Flood Control Department. He also gave instruction to the concerned engineers and officers to stop the illegal construction on both sides of the tributaries.
Sham also appealed the local as well as sarpanchs and panchs of the areas to extend full cooperation to the executing agencies for early restoration of the damaged channel. He also asked the officers to immediately complete the work of main canal so that the farmers may not suffer due to shortage of irrigation water.
Chief Engineers, I&FC, Chief Engineer, Ravi Tawi Irrigation, Superintending Engineer, Hydraulic and Executive Engineers, I&FC accompanied the Minister.
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