Stuck in red tape, Chenab project now back on track

Sumit Hakhoo

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 20

The ambitious Chenab water diversion project that was stuck in red tape seems to be back on track again.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has granted a no-objection certificate which will pave way for its funding by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency. Now, about 100 cusecs of water will be diverted from the river at Akhnoor, some 30 km from Jammu, and later carried to filtration plants by pipes.

Though it’s going to take years before the water supply resumes from the Himalayan river, the delay in granting permission had stalled the plan aimed at ending perennial water crisis facing nearly two million people in J&K.

Proposed in late 1980s, the first detailed project report was formulated in 2007 when the PDP-Congress coalition was governing the state. Later, the failure of the then Omar Abdullah led NC-Congress government to submit the detailed environmental assessment report had led to the cancellation of funds by the Asian Development Bank in 2013-14.

In 2015, the previous PDP-BJP coalition under its Rs 886-crore plan, “Augmentation of water supply to Jammu city from the Chenab”, had approached the Department of Economic Affairs, which comes under the Union Ministry of Finance, for funding. After which, the Department of Economic Affairs directed the state to seek clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Niti Aayog and the MHA. The MEA and Niti Aayog had given their nod in 2017 but the Union Home Ministry had not given a clearance due to security concerns.

“Yes, the MHA has given its clearance. Now, the project will be submitted to the Department of Economic Affairs, which will approach the Japanese International Cooperation Agency to acquire funds for the Phase-I. As soon as we get the funds, the work will be started,” said Abdul Majid Shabnam, Director, Economic Reconstruction Agency (ERA), Jammu.

Already suffering due to the discriminatory provision of the Indus Waters Treaty signed between India and Pakistan in 1962 restricting J&K from using the water of its river, the scheme could help the authorities to meet the growing needs of the expanding population. The glacier-fed Chenab originates from upper Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh and passing through erstwhile Doda district is joined by several streams before entering Pakistan at the International Border in the Akhnoor sector.

“It is a long-pending scheme and we hope it is completed soon. The purpose is to switch over from groundwater source to surface water by next two decades to meet the growing needs of J&K, especially Jammu,” said AK Gandotra, chief engineer, public health engineering department.

Cost overrun major concern 

• Years of delay in the Chenab water diversion project has led to cost overrun. In 2007, the total project cost was Rs 1,000 crore. The Phase-I was to cost Rs 500 crore, which was to be completed in 2016. However, now the Phase-I is estimated to cost Rs 824 crore. 
• Under Phase-I, around 250 million litres per day (MLD) will be lifted to cover the proposed population of 25 lakh by 2031 AD while in Phase-II, 250 MLD will be lifted to meet the needs of 37 lakh people in 2046 AD. Total 500 MLD is proposed to be lifted from the river when the project gets completed.