Haryana will fight for Rabi-Beas water share: Kidwai

Chandigarh, Mar 9 (UNI) Haryana Governor A R Kidwai today reiterated the firm commitment of the state government to get Haryana's complete share in Ravi-Beas waters through Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal.

''Concerted efforts are being made to have the matter decided expeditiously. The government is determined to protect the legitimate rights of the state and its people in this regard,'' the Governor said while addressing the members of the State Assembly on the first day of the Budget Session.

He said in order to ensure equitable distribution of available water, a 109-km-long new canal linking Bhakra Main Line with Hansi Branch and Butana Branch was being constructed at a cost of Rs 350 crore. This canal would cater to the water-starved southern areas of the state.

It would carry 2000 cusecs of water to the needy areas and would likely be completed by the end of this year.

The construction of long-awaited Shahbad-Dadupur Nalvi canal was going on in full swing at a cost of Rs 267 crore for a head capacity of 590 cusecs, the Governor said.

This canal and its distribution system measuring 375 km would provide irrigation and recharge facilities to 92,532 hectares in districts of Yamunanagar, Ambala and Kurukshetra.

He said new initiatives for prevention of floods, recharge of groundwater and improvement in irrigation facilities included Rs 295 crore Ambala Irrigation Scheme, which had already been submitted to the Central Water Commission, Rs 326 crore Mewat canal, the NCR Water Supply Channel costing Rs 225 crore with 500 cusecs capacity for drinking water and low height dams on river Ghaggar costing Rs 215 crore.

UNI