Shortfall of water

24/09/2018

After being dropped by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), about five years ago, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JAICA) funded Chenab drinking water supply project worth Rs 625 crore (Phase-I) for Greater Jammu has finally received the much awaited nod from the Niti Aayog, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs. The clearance for these projects which was pending for the last several years, was received hardly during last one month after the outgoing Governor N NVohra in a recent meeting asked the concerned officers to expedite work and get the necessary clearance as it was his `dream project'. The last NoC from the Ministry of Defence was received hardly three weeks back. The funding agency JAICA had expressed its apprehensions about Pakistan's interference in the project in view of Indus Water Treaty and the Ministry of External Affairs while dealing with the issue cleared that since water is being used for drinking purpose and up to the prescribed limit, so it was out of the purview of the Treaty.
Now a team of experts from JAICA would visit the project site at the bank of river Chenab in Akhnoor and also at Jammu (Muthi) and after its satisfaction, it will give the final nod to start work on this project shortly as all other obstacles have already been cleared. With this, Jammu city which is presently getting nearly 50 MGD of water per day, would get additional 55 MGD of water, which would be sufficient for the projected population of nearly 25 lakh up to 2031. And with the second phase of this project worth (Rs 624.52 cr ) the water will suffice the need of projected population of Jammu city (nearly 37. 5 lakhs) up to 2046. Initially, Rs 1008 crore water supply project was prepared by ERA to cater to the need of drinking water by lifting 500 MLD water per day from river Chenab near Akhnoor for the Greater Jammu during 2010 and Asian Development Bank had agreed to fund this project. The then State Cabinet gave the nod to the project to be completed in two phases. The project had been designed to cater to the need of water supply for the Greater Jammu for the next 30 years. The river Tawi was found inadequate to meet the demand of water supply for over 13 lakh souls in next one decade. But after the lapse of three years and slow progress shown by concerned agencies, the ADB dropped the project in 2013.

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