Omar gives nod to Chenab water supply scheme for greater Jammu

Directs for early launch of Rs. 350 cr. Srinagar, Jammu flyovers

JAMMU: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Wednesday gave nod for seeking Asian Development Bank (ADB) assistance for launch of prestigious 450 Million Litre Per Day (MLD) drinking water supply scheme from Chenab river to cater to the needs of greater Jammu city.
“A DPR based on ground realities should be prepared as early as possible”, the Chief Minister said asking ERA to approach the ADB for funding the project likely to cost about Rs. 895 crores in two phases to cater to the drinking water needs of projected population of 19.19 lakh of greater Jammu in 2026 and 31.96 lakh in 2041.
The Chief Minister was chairing a high level meeting here this afternoon to review the water supply position in Jammu city and work out strategy of addressing futuristic drinking water requirements of greater Jammu city.
Omar Abdullah said that the gap between availability and demand of drinking water in Jammu needs to be focused on priority and the viable project prepared by ERA posed for ADB funding.
The Chief Minister also received the status of Rs. 350 crore flyovers being constructed in the twin cities of Jammu and Srinagar. He directed for fast tracking the process of work on these projects and asked ERA to also explore possibilities of roping in ADB assistance for upgrading water supply, drainage and sewerage system in Srinagar and its periphery.
It was given out in the meeting that the flyover projects at Srinagar and Jammu will be shortly tendered out for launch of work.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, Minister for PHE, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister of State for PHE, Nasir Aslam Wani, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister, Devender Singh Rana, Chief Secretary Madhav Lal, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary Housing and Urban Development, Suresh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, ERA, Saurab Bhagat, Special Secretary PHE, Showkat Ahmad Zargar, various Chief Engineers of PHE and ERA and other senior officers.
In a PowerPoint presentation, Chief Executive Officer, ERA, Saurab Bhagat explained the salient features of the proposed water supply scheme for Jammu city. He said the 1st phase of the scheme likely to be completed within three years would involve about Rs. 491.50 crores. The 2nd phase involves Rs. 403 crores.
The 1st phase of the project would augment drinking water supply in the areas of Roop Nagar, Bantalab, New Plot, Subash Nagar, Janipur, Rehari, Sarwal, Chinoor, Muthi, Durga Nagar, Keran, Paloura, Narwal, Gandhi Nagar, Trikuta Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Channi-Himat, Bahu area, Bathendi, Rajeev Nagar, Doongain, Karyani, Nowabad, Sujawan, Delli, Sainik Colony and other areas.
The 1st phase of the project envisages construction of intake structure near Akhnoor Bridge down the stream of river Chenab, 225 MLD capacity water treatment plant at Gurapattan, 20.5 kilometers pipe length of 1800 mm die besides pumping station and other distribution pipe lines and rising means while the 2nd phase envisages construction of similar treatment plant, pipe lengths and other installations. (KMW News)