Punjab seeks early Central approval for Rajasthan & Sirhind Feeders’ relining projects

New Delhi/Chandigarh, September 04, 2018:

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Tuesday met Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Nitin Gadkari seeking early nod for Rs. 1976 crore projects of relining of Rajasthan Feeder and Sirhind Feeder.

Captain Amarinder informed the Union Minister that estimates of  projects for Relining of Rajasthan Feeder Reach RD 179000 – 496000 (Punjab portion) and Sirhind Feeder from RD 119700 to 447927 were sanctioned by Central Water Commission in year 2009 for Rs 952.100 crores and Rs 489.165 crores respectively. He said  that  work on these could not be taken up due to various reasons and now the Punjab Government had completed the groundwork and was ready to float global tenders for the work.

The Chief Minister said that since the projects do not figure in the list of 99 prioritized projects, the approval of the Union Government was requires for inclusion in the prioritized projects. He further said the revised cost of the projects, i.e. Rs. 1305.267 Cr. for Rajasthan Feeder and Rs. 671.478 Cr. for Sirhind Feeder, had  been cleared by MoWR, GR & RD, New Delhi on 06-04-2016. Besides, the Punjab Government has submitted all paperwork, including commitment to fund state share of funds, and is awaiting the Union Ministry’s approval, he added.

Moreover, the Government of Rajasthan has also made commitment to fund its share in the projects, the Chief Minister informed Gadkari.

Seeking urgent approval of the project, the Chief Minister said work will be completed in three years and there is a very small window of 70 days each year as it requires closure of the canals. Captain Amarinder said that in view of the large quantum of work required to be executed in a very short period, the contractor will require a period of at least six months for mobilization and any delay in approvals is likely to delay start of the project beyond March 2019.

The Chief Minister requested personal intervention of Union Minister for expeditious approvals at various levels of these two lifeline projects of Punjab and Rajasthan.

Gadkari promising early processing of approval of these projects, said that he understands the importance of these two irrigation projects for an agrarian state like Punjab.