NEW DELHI The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last evening approved implementation of Shahpur Kandi Dam Project on river Ravi, which has been declared a national project.
The Cabinet also approved Central Assistance of Rs 485.38 crfor the project to be provided over next five years.
On completion of the project, an Irrigation Potential of 5,000 ha in Punjab State and 32,173 ha in J&K State would be created.
Funding for Central Assistance to Shahpur Kandi Dam project shall be made through NABARD under existing system for funding of 99 PMKSY-AIBP projects under LTIF.
In addition to existing monitoring mechanism for projects by Central Water Commission, a committee headed by Member, Central Water Commission and consisting of concerned Chief Engineers of Punjab and J&K and other concerned officers would be constituted to oversee/monitor the implementation of project.
The Advisory committee of MoWR, RD&GR on Irrigation, Flood Control and Multipurpose Projects accepted the second Revised Cost Estimate amounting to Rs 2715.70 crore (February, 2018 Price Level) in its 138th meeting held on 31.10.2018.
The project would be completed by June 2022.
Pertinently, J&K and Punjab Government signed an MoU on 8 September this year for the implementation of the project, which was hanging fire for almost 4 decades.
To Hit Water Flow To Pak: Report
While the Government of India has approved the implementation of the Shahpurkandi Dam project on the Ravi in Punjab and the move will cut water flow to Pakistan.
A report published in The Times of India said the dam project will allow India to use the water which at present goes waste flowing through the Madhopur Headworks downstream to Pakistan.
“Once completed in June 2022, it will improve irrigation potential of farmers in Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab,” the TOI report said.
The report said though the project was planned 17 years ago at an estimated cost of over Rs 2,285 crore, it could not be implemented due to paucity of funds with the state.
The Centre will provide financial assistance of over Rs 485 crore (for irrigation component) to the state for implementing the project over five years from 2018-19 to 2022-23, it said.
The decision in this regard was taken by the Union Cabinet, keeping in view the provisions of the Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan.
Under this 1960 treaty, India has full rights for utilisation of waters of the three eastern rivers namely Ravi, Beas and Satluj.
The project, it said, will create an additional irrigation potential of 5,000 hectares in Punjab and 32,173 hectares in Jammu & Kashmir.
In addition, Punjab will also be able to generate 206 MW of hydro-power, it added.
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