Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today inaugurated the recommencement of balance Work of Tawi Barrage.
LG said that recommencement of Tawi Barrage is a significant occasion for Jammu City. The ambitious project, which was hanging fire more than a decade, will enhance scenic beauty, increase tourism potential of the city of temples and it will also ensure creation of recreational spots for people, he added.
Today’s initiative is a part of the government’s endeavour to develop urban centers as engines of economic growth and make the cities ecologically and economically sustainable. The new and robust infrastructure will cater to tourists as well the local population, making the citizens partners in the conservation and development of water bodies, LG said.
The project will also provide solution to water supply problems by enhancing the water table of the city, Sinha said.
Noting that the legacy of project delays in J&K has hampered the economy of the region and kept people away from the basic facilities, LG asserted that project delays which were earlier considered a norm is now a thing of the past. The UT has achieved new strides in project implementation, while only 9229 projects were completed in 2018-19, more than 50000 projects have been completed in 2021-22, registering a substantial five-fold increase.
After August 2019, under the guidance of Prime Minister, development of Jammu and Kashmir has become top priority of the government. Our major concern at the same time has also been to ensure that the aesthetic and cultural heritage of the UT is preserved and protected, the Lt Governor said.
It was informed that after studying the partially constructed part and examining the flood level of 2014, the team of IIT Roorkee had given its recommendations regarding the technical aspects of the project. Subsequently, various experts and stakeholders were roped in and a comprehensive roadmap was prepared to develop the Tawi Barrage into a major tourist attraction.
Pertinently, the proposed Tawi Barrage will create a pondage of 1.41 million cubic meters. It will be an auto mechanical and manual operated gated barrage controlled through SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system and the project is scheduled to be commissioned by mid July 2023.
The Lt Governor lauded the efforts of public representatives, civil society groups, district administration and various stakeholders for their efforts in rejuvenating the water sources and ponds in the UT.
“Mission Amrit Sarovar is witnessing participation from all sections of society. It is our collective responsibility to preserve and protect our water sources”, he added.
The Lt Governor also called on the stakeholders to tap the potential of water sports in the Tawi which will generate opportunities for commercial activities and create employment avenues for the local population.
