Rs 19 crore okayed for central varsity water scheme in Dehra

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has sanctioned Rs 19 crore for a dedicated drinking water supply scheme for the upcoming Central University of Himachal Pradesh campus at Dehra in Kangra district.

The approval follows a request by local MLA Kamlesh Thakur and the university administration. The Jal Shakti Department has been tasked with implementing a lift water scheme that will draw water from the Beas river. The project is expected to be completed within nine months after the tendering process is finalised by the department.

The Dehra campus, currently under construction, will require approximately 12 lakh litres of water daily. This new scheme will exclusively meet the university’s water needs, ensuring long-term water security as the institution expands. “This approval is a major relief,” said MLA Kamlesh Thakur. “I thank the Chief Minister for the prompt response. This scheme is crucial for students, faculty and the future development of the university.”

The Central University was approved under the 11th Five-Year Plan and received Presidential assent on March 20, 2009. As per the original plan, the university will operate from two campuses: the Dhauladhar campus at Jadrangal near Dharamsala and the Beas campus in Dehra.

Currently, the university operates from rented buildings in Dharamsala. While the Dehra campus, spread over 115 acres, is seeing rapid construction progress and is expected to host over 70 per cent of the university’s academic activities, the Jadrangal campus—on a reserved 90-acre site—awaits funding for construction.

The local MLA expressed hope that with the drinking water scheme in place, academic sessions at the Dehra campus could commence from the next academic session.