Minister: Suketi river to be channelled in Mandi

Tribune News Service

Mandi, November 10

Jal Shakti Minister Mahender Singh Thakur said today that on the demand of people, the state government had decided to channel the Suketi river at a cost of Rs 485 crore. The government had sent the detailed project report (DPR) for approval to the Central Technical Approval Committee, New Delhi.

Thakur was here to preside over a meeting with the officials of the district administration and the Jal Shakti Department and review the progress of development works in Mandi.

Channelling the river is a long pending demand of the people of the region because the river causes considerable damage to the agricultural land in the Balh valley of Mandi, Nachan and Sundernagar areas during the rainy season. The project is hanging fire for the past many years.

The minister said that the matter was under the consideration of the Central Technical Approval Committee. The channelling work would be started as soon as the approval of the committee is received.

He added that the project would directly benefit the people of Mandi, Balh, Nachan and Sundernagar in four Assembly constituencies and save agricultural land from floods.

The minister asked the officers to emphasise on the improvement and upgrade of old projects of drinking water and irrigation.

He directed them to get the works such as the installation of power transformers done without delay.

Deputy Commissioner Arindam Chaudhary, Chief Engineer of the Jal Shakti Department Dharmender Gill, Superintending Engineer Upender Vaidya, SDM Ritika Jindal and Revenue Officer Rajeev Sankhyan also attended the meeting.

To cost Rs 485 crore

• The channelisation project will cost Rs 485 crore
• The government had sent a detailed project report for approval
• The project is a long-pending demand of the people