Jhelum River Dredging: RDL Refutes Reports of Slow Pace of Work

Srinagar—Reach Dredging Limited (RDL), a Kolkata-based firm, which has got contract from the Jammu and Kashmir government for the dredging of River Jhelum has refuted accusations that its work for the pupose was going on a low pace.

Terming the allegations levelled by a local NGO in some media outlets that Reach Dredging Limited has only been able to carry out 5 to 10 per cent of dredging in Jhelum so far, as baseless, the company called it part of disinformation campaign.

“This is absolute disinformation being spread by some people. The concerned authorities in the state government are well aware of the fact that about 71% of work has already been done by our firm,” Reach Dredging Limited said in a statement to Kashmir Observer.

Clarifying the position of the operations regarding the dredging of the Jhelum,it said, “Jhelum dredging project is divided in two parts. One stretch is from Bell mouth of Flood Spill Channel to Panjinara & another is from Sopore to Baramulla. At the places approximately 71% of work is already completed.”

About the dredged out material, RDL clarified that as per contract, Irrigation & Flood Control Division has allowed the company; RDL has deployed suitable combination of machinery to dredge out material from River Jhelum. The company has to dredge out soil/silt/mud/various grades of sand whatever is under the water in the locations as mentioned above.”

The statement added, “The material under the river bed is beyond the control of company. The dredged material consists of 34% sand & 66% soil as on date. As per the contract, the sale of the dredged material has to be done by the company and hence the contract itself is the NOC to sell the dredged material since cost/revenue is being deducted from the contractor/company’s bills by Irrigation & Flood Control Department. Hence, the dredged out material are being sold at various locations as per the terms of the contract.”

The statement further reads: “The cutter suction dredgers are equipped with a rotating cutter head, which is able to cut the material inside the river. The cutter head is a rotating mechanical device, mounted in front of the suction head and rotating along the axis of the suction pipe. The cut material is then sucked in by dredge pumps and the dredged material is then pumped ashore using pumps and a floating pipeline into dykes. The dykes are premeasured and also a post survey measurement is done to ascertain the dredged quantity”.

RDL also negated that the firm was given the contract for the dredging of Jhelum with Hongyan Engineering Company Limited.

“The Jhelum Dredging contract was not awarded to the JV with Hubei Hongyan Engineering Company Limited; it was awarded to a different JV.

Moreover, according to the statement, Hubei Hongyan Engineering Company Limited is not banned by Indian Shipping Corporation.