Delay in Chenab project leaves region high and dry

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 27

With the ambitious Chenab water diversion project still stuck with the Union Home Ministry for over two years, the Jammu region continues to face drinking water deficit of around 15 millions of gallons per day (MGD).

Sources said the PHE department had asked the state government to allow it to approach the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to fund the construction of nearly 50 heavy duty tubewells to cover the deficit, which was slowly increasing due to high usage.

The ADB team is expected to visit J&K in June to gather information about the state’s requirements.

With summer at its peak, the PHE department is unable to meet the requirements of Jammu as well as other towns of the region. Under the Chenab water diversion project formulated in 2007-08, water was to be lifted from the river at Akhnoor to meet the deficit.

“The delay in getting a no-objection certificate from the Union Home Ministry has stalled the Chenab water diversion project. Also, there are some pending security related issues. We have to find alternative sources as the people are suffering badly due to the scarcity of water,” claimed a senior PHE department official.

The total water requirement of Jammu is 65 MGD while the PHE department is able to dig out only 50 MGD. The rest 15 MGD is covered by enforcing the ‘rationing of water’, where residential colonies get supply on alternate days or after three days.

When contacted, Chief Engineer, PHE department, AK Gandotra said, “We are working on a plan to augment the existing infrastructure. For now, tubewells are our only option and more of these are required to be dug up to meet the requirement.”

In summer, the situation worsens as the demand rises but the supply remains the same. Till the arrival of monsoon, even the lifting capacity of the pumping stations on the Tawi does not function fully, further hitting the supply.