Details

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 13 July 2015

• In 5 years, for 20 Months Construction Work Remained Suspended

JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir government has informed that 95 percent civil woks and 90 % mechanical works is completed at the Waddi Tawi site of Tawi Lake Project and similarly at the Nikki Tawi site 80 % job out of Civil Works and 70 percent of mechanical works stands completed as one date. It’s also been informed that an amount of Rs. 54.68 crore spent so far on the Barrage project for Tawi Lake.

The response of the government has come in reply to an RTI application of activist Raman Sharma, whereas the information seeker had sought certain information from the Irrigation department of Jammu and Kashmir government about the estimated cost and present status of the work on the much talked Tawi Lake project in Jammu. Anil Sharma, Public Information Officer and Executive Engineer in Division-II of Irrigation department vide his office letter dated 26/06/2015 addressed to the applicant has also informed that the targeted date for completion of the barrage portion of the lake project stands revised to 31/03/2016 and formally work on ground was started on 22/07/2010 after completion of preliminaries.

On the question of estimated cost of the Project, the PIO has apprised that the total allotted cost of the barrage of Tawi Lake project is Rs. 69.70 Crore. Replying to the query about total period of time for which the work on this prestigious project remained closed, the department has replied that the period of time for which the work on Barrage Project remained closes is approximately 20 months and comprises mainly of rainy season during each financial year during the period of from Mid June to October every year as the Work is in river Tawi Basin and during the said period flash floods were witnessed.

The PIO has not replied to the applicant’s query where he has sought certified copies of any specific directions issued by the Chief Minister/Deputy Chief minister or PHE and Irrigation minister about this lake project. Though in the reply it has been told that pattern of funding for the project would be 90:10 basis i.e 90 percent by the central government,10 % by the state government and Central assistance from ministry of water resources (GOI) is Rs. 25 Cr, funds awarded by the 13th finance commission for developing the Tawi front is also Rs. 25 Cr and the funds from the state govt are Rs, 20 Crore.

In response to the demand of the applicant about certified copied of last 3 inspection reports and the recommendations, the department has informed that Inspections are carried out by NABCON and the reports are submitted directly to the government hence copies of Inspection reports are not available with them.