Haryana CM meets Gadkari, seeks Centre’s help for water and road projects

Ravi S Singh

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 9

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar  on Monday called on Union Minister for Water Resources , and Road and Transport Nitin Gadkari and urged Centre’s intervention for expeditious construction of  water and road projects in the state.

He also sought the Centre’s intervention on Haryana’s behalf in its legal tussle with Punjab in the Supreme Court with regard to usage for Bhakra Main Line (BML) Hansi-Butana Canal.

With regard to the water projects, he referred to construction of proposed Renuka dam on the Giri river in Himachal Pradesh, other than Lakhwar and Kishanu dams on the Yamuna and Tons, respectively.

Pitching for the speedy construction of the dams, Khattar informed that Haryana has taken all measures and was ready to even take up other necessary steps to this effect.

The Centre must intervene as the projects are based in the other states.

 Haryana has already paid Rs 25 crore regarding construction of Renuka dam.

Lakhawar project is a multiple purpose scheme and is located on Yamuna in the district of Deharadu in Uttarakhand. It envisages construction of 204 m high concrete dam near Lohari village.

Kishau dam is a proposed gravity dam on the Tons river straddling between Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

The dams will help augment water in Tajewala Barrage and water supply to the western and eastern Yamuna canals. 

Nearly 70 per cent areas in Haryana, including Gurugram, are entirely dependent on the western Yamuna canal for water.

Besides, Khattar urged Gadkari for central help for the state to find a way for usage of Butana-Hansi Canal against which Punjab has raised a dispute in the court.

The matter is pending in the Supreme Court, and will soon come up for hearing.

“Punjab is creating roadblocks for Haryana regarding usage of the canal,” Khattar said.

He told the minister that the Central Water Commission, a body of the Water Resources Ministry, has a role. It should help the state’s case in the court.

“Haryana is espousing its just case for usage of the canal as it is meant to draw its share of water from Bhakra Main Line (BML),” Khattar said.

The BML is an off shoot of Bhakra Dam. A portion of the canal passes through Punjab. The residents of the villages concerned have objected to it on ground that its cemented wall obstructs natural flow of water and would cause floods.

Haryana has spent more than Rs 354 crore on the construction of the inter-state canal.

With regard to road projects, he raised the construction of Gurugram-Dwarka Expressway Way, Karnal-Kaithal and Karna Merut roads.

Responding to media queries, Khattar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon lay the foundation for Gurugram-Dwarka Expressway.

He said the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal Expressway has been completed and only final touch was being given. The prime minister would inaugurate it, probably, by end of this month, he added.

The chief minister also called on Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and urged her participation in International Geeta Mahotsav-2018 in Kurukshetra. She has agreed to take part on opening and closing ceremonies.