Tawi Artificial Lake in quagmire, tenders open after IIT inspection

AVINAV VERMA. Updated: 4/25/2019 11:32:23 AM Front Page

JAMMU: Tawi Artificial Lake project is still far from completion with casual approach of government, which has been failed to complete remaining 25 percent work since last year.

The project executing department, Public Health Engineering Flood and Irrigation has been executing the project for the last nine years now.

The project may not see the day light soon as the department has yet to float new tenders for the remaining 25 percent works.

“A technical team comprises of IIT engineers will visit and explore the feasibility of the reaming project,” an official said wishing anonymity.

“The technical team will also estimate the cost of remaining work. Once the technical team submits its report then the state level committee will float tenders for the remaining work of project,” he said.

The remaining 25 per cent work includes launching gate on the Chhoti (small) Tawi and construction of some pillars.

“The pace of execution work so slow that it is still unknown when the team will visit and when the tenders will finally floated” an insider said, adding “Some of the officials of the department were not interested in to complete the project.”

The construction work of Tawi Artificial Tawi Lake had been stopped in the month of February 2018, because GVR Infra Ltd, the company executing the project, had secured a status quo order from Chennai High Court.

The company had increased the cost of the project due to its financial crunch, which was refused by the state government. In the regard, GVR Infra Ltd approached the Chennai High Court. After more than six months, the high court pronounced its verdict in the favour of Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) department.

The lake project was first approved by the then Governor of J&K, Jagmohan, in 1986 but the work could not start.

The construction of the artificial lake started in 2010 during the government headed by Omar Abdullah and it was scheduled to be completed in 2013.

The state government has spent Rs 58 crore and claimed that about 85 per cent of work has been completed on the project.
Updated On 4/25/2019 11:37:46 AM


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