Shahpur Kandi Project
After the years of negotiations, J&K Government was finally able to strike a deal with the Government of Punjab for the Shahpur Kandi Project in Kathua district. This project when operational will be the game changer in the villages of Kathua as the water canal will be connected with Punjab and all the barren land of Kathua, would come under cultivation.
In this direction recently Union Minister inspected progress on Shahpur Kandi Project. Recently Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the implementation of Shahpur Kandi Dam Project on river Ravi at an estimated cost of Rs 2715.70 crore and will be completed by 2022.
The water of the River Ravi at present is going waste through the Madhopur Headworks downstream to Pakistan. Whereas, there is requirement for the same for use in Punjab and J&K. Implementation of the project would minimize such wastage of water by constructing canal to carry water to Haryana, Rajasthan or some other States.
This project will also generate employment for both skilled and unskilled youth and a committee will be constituted to scrutinize the genuine applicants. This project will irrigate 5000 ha of land in Punjab and 32172 ha in J&K, covering Kathua and Samba districts. The project will be implemented by Punjab Govt. with Central assistance and the project has the potential of changing fortunes of farmers as the vast rain fed area of J&K will have irrigation facility besides provide relief to water stressed areas.
