Chenab water diversion may face ire from Pakistan

Chenab water diversion may face ire from Pakistan
Yash Khajuria	9/20/2011 11:05:57 PM
JAMMU, Sept 20: In what could start another spat between India and Pakistan on river Chenab, state government is making techno-feasibility report to divert 100 cusecs of water from the river to augment the water supplyin the expanding Jammu city. According to the officials, Public Health Engineering (PHE) department is hiring the services of the consultants to start Geo-Technical Feasibility of the project. Sources said that it has been proposed that 40 Million Gallon Day (MGD) water will be lifted near Ranjan lift irrigation station on the left bank of river Chenab which about 28 km from the city centre. “We have started the process and when the plan is completed made operational will make city surplus in the drinking water”, said Minister for PHE, Taj-Mohi-Ud-Din. On will they face any objection from the Pakistan, he said that it is just a small volume of water, which is being diverted for the drinking purpose. “We don’t feel there will be objection from the otherside”, he Minister said. Minister said that the consultants will have to give due consideration to the Geo-Technical feasibility of the region through which the propose alignments of the channels will be proposed. It is important to mention here that Chenab river is constant cause of the friction between two nuclear armed countries as the Pakistan has been accusing India of violating the Indus Water Treaty of 1962, by over exploiting the water of northern rivers. Even Baghilar Hydro Power Project ran into trouble, inviting international arbitration to settle the dispute. According to the proposal, the water is proposed to be carried by Gravity having initial lift from river Chenab and will be filtered subsequently at a suitable spot to be identified on the higher contour through open channel or pipes at Roop Nagar. “Technically the project is very difficult keeping in view the hilly terrain and slide prone zones and a detailed techno feasible report is being prepared”, said a Engineer associated with the project. It is pertinent to mention here that the prolonged dry spell in Jammu in recent years has created permanent water crisis in region catering to the population of 13 lakh and floating population of nearly 3 lakh every month, mostly pilgrims. The dry spell has also reduced the ground water resources in the city so far mostly used to supply water to the city residents. On daily basis Jammu needs nearly 39 MGD of water but despite starting various projects, the PHE has been able to keep the supply at 26 MGD to 30 MGD, leaving many areas without water for days together.