A historic agreement was signed on Saturday between chief secretary BVR Subrahmanyam and his Punjab counterpart Karan Avtar Singh on implementation of Shahpur Kandi Dam Project, which had been hanging fire for several years.
The agreement was signed in presence of Governor Satya Pal Malik and Punjab water resources minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria.
The project on River Ravi is a major irrigation project, which benefits both K&K and Punjab.
J&K is entitled to 0.69 MAF of water from River Ravi, of which only 0.215 MAF is being utilised by the state.
While the construction of 79.5-kms Ravi Canal and 493 km of distribution network in J&K has been completed, the lack of progress on the Shahpur Kandi Dam Project and some disputes relating to the Thein Dam have led to non-utilization of the waters of Ravi J&K is entitled to.
Following the agreement, Kathua and Samba and some parts of Jammu district will be benefited, as 32,000 hectares of agricultural land (80,000 acres)in the Kandi areas, upstream and downstream along the Jammu-Pathankot national highway in Samba and Kathua districts will be irrigated.
This will ensure the prosperity of the farmers of these areas and will lead to overall development of the region.
J&K can get 41 MW of power from this project in addition to 20% of the power of the Thein Dam. This project will be completed by the government of Punjab in three years and the water is expected to flow to J&K by the end of 2020.
As per the agreement, Jammu & Kashmir shall be provided with full quantity of water of 1150 cusecs of water under all circumstances subject to a ceiling of 0.69 MAF water is entitled to as per the 1979 agreement.
Other significant specifics of the agreement include that the project will continue to be implemented by the Government of Punjab. However, there will be a tripartite team headed by Member, CWC and consisting of chief engineers of the two states to monitor the project as and when required but at least once in three months to ensure that the construction is as per the greement.
The balance costs on account of compensation (approximately Rs115 crore) for land acquisition in respect of Thein Dam, as per the agreement, will be paid by the Punjab government immediately, as per the orders of the relevant statutory authorities under the Land Acquisition Act.
Jobs to the land oustees would be provided by the government of Punjab as per the agreed Rehabilitation &Reconstruction Policy of both the governments. As per the agreement, employment to remaining 861 displaced families would be provided under this proviso.
The Punjab government will reiterate its commitment to construct the balance 2.3-km Ravi Canal and Siphon for the J&K Canal co-terminus with the construction of the Shahpur Kandi Dam. Accordingly, the Punjab government would fully fund the construction of the 2.3-km of Ravi Canal and Siphon for J&K Canal.
The Punjab government is required to make available to J&K 20% of the total power generated at the Thein Dam at the rate (busbar rate) fixed by CERC with a ceiling of Rs 3.50 per unit, with prospective effect.
All claims and counter-claims of both states, on account of delayed implementation, will be settled through arbitration as per 1979 agreement.
The J&K government shall have the right of first refusal in respect of its entitled share of 20% power from Shahpur Kandi Dam at the SERC rates.
The water supplies to both states, in the operation stage, will be under the joint steering and supervision of a committee of the representatives consisting of CWC and both governments.
Pertinently, the most critical element which has been introduced now and which was not there either in the MoU of 2017 or the Cabinet Decision of 2017 is the introduction of “joint steering and supervision” of water supplies during the operation of the Dam.
This is the safety clause which will ensure that J&K is never deprived of its original share of waters and protects its interests in perpetuity.