JAMMU: Governor N.N. Vohra, has addressed Ms. Uma Bharti, Minister for Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, and requested urgent release of funds for the dredging of the river Jhelum and its outflow channels being completed timely. The Governor has elicited the Minister’s personal interest in this matter so that this time bound Project can be completed before the coming monsoon season. He has informed the Minister about the progress of the dredging and other priority works.
The Governor is personally monitoring the implementation of this vital project to ensure that the works are completed as per the envisaged time frame. Apart from monitoring progress the Governor visited the dredging sites on his recent tour to Srinagar. It is pertinent to mention that the Priority Works reflected in the aforesaid Plan include emergent works and the dredging of river Jhelum to increase its carrying capacity from 34,000 to 45,000 cusecs. The funding for this entire Project is provided for in the Special Package for J&K State which was recently announced by the Prime Minister.
Under the Prime Minister’s Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Programme 2015, the DPR for “Priority Works- Comprehensive Plan for Flood Management Works on Jhelum-Phase-1” costing Rs. 399.29 crore has been carved out of the main project for “Comprehensive Plan for Flood Management Works on Jhelum” costing Rs. 2083 crores. The main components of this project include re-sectioning and land acquisition to restore the width of the Flood Spill Channel, especially at Shariefabad and Naidkhai, strengthening of embankments at particularly vulnerable spots of river Jhelum and urgent dredging works in the river Jhelum and Flood spill Channel.