Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar on Sunday said that he has written to his Punjab counterpart Capt Amarinder Singh, urging him to join hands to check the wasteful flow of Ravi waters to Pakistan keeping in view the unprecedented water crisis that looms over both the states.
“In the letter, I have urged Punjab Chief Minister to direct his officers concerned to take up the proposal in right earnest,” said the Chief Minister while talking to the mediapersons here.
The letter stated, “You (Amarinder Singh) must have noticed reports about an unprecedented water crisis that looms large over our states. More and more blocks of Haryana and Punjab have anyway been slipping into the category of over-exploited blocks even as our hard-working farmers toil in the face of a stressed farm sector.”
“I think that time has come when we must join hands in checking the wasteful flow of Ravi waters to Pakistan,” it stated.
Referring to the sixth meeting of the committee, formed by the Centre in this regard, which was held at the Central Water Commission in New Delhi in April 2012, Manohar lal wrote, “It had assessed the quantum of Minimum Utilizable Water (MUW) as 32 cumecs (equivalent to 0.58MAF) on a sustainable basis. The committee had decided that the proposal for its diversion by constructing a 2 to 2.5 m high diversion structure across river Ravi with a gravity flow canal off-taking from Dharamkot to Harike Head works was viable."
The panel had also opined that any other techno-economically superior alternative that would trait the problem of implementation of the scheme, may be carried out during preparation of a detailed project report based on actual survey and investigation by an agency to be decided separately at an appropriate forum.
Manohar lal also mentioned in the letter that the Centre had accordingly asked all the partner states to build a consensus on engaging the Bhakra Beas Management Board to undertake feasibility studies and start construction, and the Punjab government may take follow-up action on the minutes of meeting held in April 2012.
“It is indeed unfortunate that there has been no visible progress on the issue so far and the ever so precious water is still going to Pakistan.
This enormous national wastage of water needs to be stopped immediately. Being divertible, this water should instead be utilised for the benefits of the people of the partner states,” he said.
“I, therefore, request you to direct your officers concerned to take up the proposal in right earnest. I have directed our Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary in the Irrigation and Water Resources Department to accord top priority to this. They shall make it convenient to attend any meeting that your officers may consider necessary on the subject so as to ensure expeditious implementation of this proposal which has already been declared as National Project by the Government of India," the letter added.
Chief Minister Manohar lal alongwith a high level delegation on Sunday left for Israel to study their best practices in the field of agriculture. He will also be visiting United Kingdom (UK) to attract investment for the ongoing major industrial projects in the state.
During 10 days foreign visit, the delegation would be in Israel from May 6 to 8 and in UK from May 9 to 13.
The Chief Minister said, “During visit to Israel, the delegation would participate in the Agritech Israel-2018 scheduled to be held on May 8. Recently, Ambassador of Israel to India, Daniel Carmon had called on him here and invited to participate in this mega event.”
UK visit would further strengthen the bilateral business relations besides attracting industrial investment to Haryana, especially in the major ongoing global city projects like Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) between Gurugram-Manesar-Bawal, logistic hub at Narnaul, Hisar Aviation Hub and IMT Kharkhoda. Besides this, the delegation would also visit the POD car facility in Heathrow, UK, Manohar lal said.
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari had announced that to ease the traffic congestion, this facility would be started from Dhaulakuan to Rajiv Chowk in Gurugram. The meetings would also be held with the leading industrialists regarding Start-ups for creating job opportunities for the youth of Haryana, he added.
Haryana to introduce enhancement policy
The Chief Minister announced to introduce no enhancement policy for the future allotments of plots in sectors of Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP).
He said the left out plots in the HSVP sectors will only be auctioned at the market rate.
Giving a major relief to plot holders of HSVP, the Chief Minister has already announced one-time rebate of 40 per cent on total outstanding amount of enhancement. The plot holders would be able to avail the benefit of this scheme till July 4, 2018.
He added that arrangement of loans would also be made for those who wish to take loan to pay the enhancement amount on 40 per cent rebate.
Replying to a question on law and order situation, he said that Haryana Police Cadet Corps on the pattern of National Cadet Corps is being set up in the state involving students from class XI to graduation level. It is also under consideration of the State Government to give preference to such students in recruitment to the Police Department, he added.