PM Modi government revives century-old Ujh project to maximise Ravi waters: Dr Jitendra Singh
New Delhi, Aug 2
The revival of the long-pending Ujh Multipurpose Project and the near-completion of the Shahpurkandi project reflect the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's commitment to optimising India's share of the Ravi river waters and fast-tracking strategic infrastructure projects that had remained stalled for decades, Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh said on Sunday.
Reviewing the status and phased implementation roadmap of the Ujh Multipurpose Project (MPP) in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, Singh held a detailed review meeting with officials of WAPCOS Limited, a government undertaking under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, which has been entrusted with implementing the project.
"Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, long-pending national projects are being taken forward with renewed urgency," the minister stated.
"The Ujh Multipurpose Project, conceived nearly a century ago, had remained in limbo for decades, while the Shahpurkandi project had remained pending for about four decades. The delay in implementation of these projects resulted in the waters of the Ravi River and its tributaries continuing to flow into Pakistan," Singh added.
He directed the agency to expedite execution so that the benefits of the strategically important project reach people at the earliest while maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety and efficiency.
He also advised WAPCOS to explore innovative implementation strategies to ensure timely completion of the project.
During the meeting, officials informed the minister that the project would be executed in a phased manner.
Construction activities will begin while the acquisition of the remaining land continues simultaneously, instead of waiting for the entire land acquisition process to conclude. The implementing agency is also finalising project site-related requirements.
"The revival of the Shahpurkandi project in 2019, which is now almost complete, and the revival of the Ujh Multipurpose Project in 2026 reflect the government's resolve under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to realise long-delayed projects, optimise the use of India's water resources and deliver tangible benefits to the people," the minister explained.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good to see infrastructure projects getting attention, but let's be honest - election season is near, and these announcements tend to come with political motives. I hope they actually finish this on time and don't just hold meetings and take photos.
As someone from Kathua, I can tell you this is a game-changer for us! The Shahpurkandi project has already started helping with irrigation, and if Ujh really comes up, it'll transform our agriculture. Delays were mostly due to land acquisition issues - hope the phased approach solves that!
As an NRI, it's great to see India finally taking infrastructure seriously. We have the technical capability, and with proper execution, this could really boost the region's economy. The fact that they're starting construction parallel to land acquisition shows practical thinking.
Century-old project and still not done - that's the real shame. But better late than never. The Indus Water Treaty has been complicated, but using our rightful share of Ravi waters will definitely strengthen our position. Hope Pakistan doesn't create unnecessary hurdles again.
Honestly, I'm more interested in how this benefits local farmers directly. Will the water reach smallholders or just large landowners? These big projects sound good on paper but often take years for benefits to reach actual fields. Let's hope this time is different.
M We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.