15 years on, Kathua dam project still incomplete amid land relief hurdle
Fifteen years after its initiation and with Rs 22 crore already spent, a check dam project in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, aimed at water conservation and supporting irrigation, remains incomplete. The issue was raised by BJP’s Bharat Bhushan in the Legislative Assembly on Saturday, through an unstarred question, asking for details about the current status of the project and the government’s plans to complete the remaining 30 per cent of the work.
In response, Javed Ahmed Rana, Minister in-charge of the Jal Shakti Department, provided the details, explaining that the check dam at Khokhyal village was first proposed in 2009 at a total estimated cost of Rs 25.85 crore. While 70 per cent of the work, particularly the weir section, had been completed, work was halted at the request of local inhabitants. They demanded the settlement of land compensation cases before construction could proceed further.
Rana added that various components of the project, such as the main check dam, guide bunds on both sides, diversion channel and portions of the Barmori canal, had been completed, though parts of the canal remain damaged. By March 31, 2024, the cumulative expenditure stood at Rs 22.65 crore.
The minister further explained that the delay in resolving land disputes caused price escalation, which led to the abandonment of the project for lack of additional funds. A revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) was submitted to the Central Water Commission (CWC) for approval, but the CWC returned the DPR with the observation that the project, part of a cluster of 54 Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) schemes under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme (AIBP) from 2007-08, had already received central assistance. Thus, it could not be revised under minor irrigation schemes.
To complete the remaining work, Rana stated that a comprehensive proposal is under formulation, considering the updated site conditions, and would be prepared in due course.
