U’khand, UP to sign pact on Jamrani dam project soon

Neena Sharma

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 26

The state government is on the verge of signing the memorandum of understanding with the Uttar Pradesh government for starting construction on the Jamrani multipurpose irrigation dam project within a month.

“What ever differences the two states had over the years on the issue have been ironed out. During the meeting of Chief Minister TS Rawat with his UP counterpart in Lucknow in early April, it has been decided to expedite the matter. The entire formalities will be completed within a month,” said Om Prakash, Additional Chief Secretary, Uttarakhand. He had accompanied Chief Minister TS Rawat during his April visit to Lucknow.

The multipurpose dam envisaged in 1975 is expected to provide drinking water for not only the people of Haldwani and Nainital but also will quench the thirst of nearby Bijnor and Rampur districts in Uttar Pradesh.

Steps for finally resolving the matter between UP and Uttarakhand began in 2015 and the nitty-gritty of the MoU that will be eventually signed by the two heads of the state governments was discussed in 2016. Now, 2017 with a BJP-led governments at the helm of affairs in both Uttarakhand and UP, the matter is ambling towards a final solution.

The total cost of the project is Rs 2,350.56 crore, out of which 25 per cent of the cost (Rs 595 crore will be borne by the UP government and the remaining  will be borne by the stategovernment.

The 13.06 meter dam on the Gola river once constructed will provide drinking water and irrigation facilities in 47,607 hectare farm area of Uttar Pradesh and 9,458 hectare farm area of Uttarakhand. The dam was sanctioned on the Gola river of Kathgodam area in Nainital district with an estimated cost of Rs 927.93 lakh in 2005 but its construction could not be started due to various reasons.

Besides, the MoU on the construction of Jamrani Dam, the Uttarakhand government is also hopeful of receiving consent from the UP government on the control of 25 per cent of the irrigation properties that still continue to be under its control.

There are total 41 power projects totalling 2378.115 MW that are under construction. These are to be constructed by private and government agencies and a few to be funded by the Asian Development Bank.