Hooda brings up Ravi-Beas dispute in CM's conclave

Chandigarh, Sep 28 (UNI) Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today drew Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's attention to water dispute regarding the share of Haryana in Ravi-Beas waters, stressing it needed to be resolved without further delay.

The Chief Minister made this request in his written speech, read by Education Minister Phool Chand Mullana at the conclave of Chief Ministers on North Indian Common Economy organised by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today.

Mr Hooda said Haryana's share of Ravi-Beas Waters would lead to additional irrigation of three lakh hectares of land and production of eight lakh tonnes of foodgrains per annum.

He said reorganisation of states had given rise to new disputes on sharing of natural resources, especially river waters. Optimum utilisation of river waters in the Northern Region could not be achieved without collaboration and constructive engagement between the State governments, he added.

Mr Hooda sought liberal financial assistance from the centre to execute of all the identified hydel power generation and storage projects in Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.

Construction of Kishau, Renuka and Lakhwar-Vyasi dams across the tributaries of Yamuna could solve the drinking water problems of the entire National Capital Region and generate an additional 1000 MW of power, he said.

Issues related to sharing of cost, power and water need to be settled amicably between all the states in order to clear way for implementation of these projects, Mr Hooda added.

Similarly, storage dams on Ujh and Basantar, tributaries of Ravi in Jammu and Kahsmir and a barrage across Ravi near Ajnala in Punjab along with a link canal to divert the water to Beas needed to be examined for early implementation, he said.

In the absence of suitable engineering structures, more than three MAF water was still flowing to Pakistan, he pointed out.

The Chief Minister said Haryana was currently implementing two major irrigation projects for optimising water utilisation in the State. The multi-purpose channel linking the Bhakra Main Line with the Hansi Branch and Butana Branch canals would ensure equitable distribution of available water among different regions of the state.

The Dadupur-Shahbad-Nalvi canal project would recharge ground water in about 92,500 hectares in Yamunanagar, Ambala and Kurukshetra besides providing kharif irrigation to 46,000 hectares and thereby ease the pressure on power demand for tubewells.

These projects involve a total outlay of Rs 526 crore.

Mr Hooda attended the inaugural session, but could not attend the session of Chief Ministers.

UNI PS-JN AK GC1808