Uttarakhand CM Dhami Pushes for Faster Flood Protection and Water Projects
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed officials from the state irrigation department to expedite work on the master drainage plan and flood plan zoning of cities. This directive was given during a review meeting at the secretariat.
Key Directives
Chief Minister Dhami emphasized the need to prepare and submit a concrete plan within two months for removing silt from dams and dredging systems to increase water levels. He also stressed the importance of connecting the Pindar and Kosi rivers.
For clean water to flow into the Ganga and its tributaries, Dhami instructed officials to identify drains without Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and to focus on the construction of ghats. He also called for expedited flood protection work and improved irrigation facilities in mountainous areas.
Major Projects
Dhami directed that work on the Jamrani Dam Multipurpose Project and Song Dam Drinking Water Project should start soon, with all proceedings to be completed by September. A budget of Rs 710 crore has been allocated for the Jamrani Dam Project in the financial year 2024-25, which will provide 117 MLD drinking water to Haldwani City and its surrounding areas and create additional irrigation capacity for about 57 thousand hectares. The Song Dam Project, with a budget of Rs 300 crore for the financial year 2024-25, will ensure a 150 MLD gravity drinking water supply for Dehradun City and its suburban areas until 2053.
Landslide and Other Works
The Chief Minister also directed the completion of treatment work for the Baliyanala landslide area in Nainital district, protective work for landslides near Haldapani Law College in Chamoli district, and Gwalgaon landslide treatment work in the Dharchula development block of Pithoragarh.
In the meeting, it was informed that clean drinking water, tourism development, fisheries, and groundwater enrichment projects have been completed in various locations, including Tharkot Lake in Pithoragarh, Kolidhek Jhal in Champawat, and a reservoir on the Gagas River in Almora. Embankment strengthening work has also been done from Ghatgarh drain on the Kali river in Dharchula to the India-Nepal bridge. A dredge plan is being worked on in 14 important cities of the state, with a survey of Dehradun already completed.