Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal dedicated IInd Phase of ambition Swan River Changer Project in district Una at Jhalera today, to the farmers of the district.
Speaking on the occasion Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal said that the channelization Project of Swan River and its tributaries would be completed at the cost of Rs. 1000 crore and channelization of the entire river of about 77 kilometres would be carried out besides channelizing 73 tributaries of about 10 kilometres.
Prof. Dhumal said that the 1st Phase of Swan River Channelization was started on 15 April, 2000 and completed in year 2009 under which 16.67 kilometre river between Jhalera bridge and Santokhgarh was channelized and 2260 hectare farm land re-claimed. The 1st Phase of Swan River channelization was completed by spending Rs. 106 crore.
He said that 2nd Phase Project was started on 13 April, 2008, estimated to cost of Rs. 235.52 crore. He said that the IInd Phase had been completed today and dedicated to the people of the district. Besides, IInd Phase of 28.34 kilometres length of river between Gagret bridge to Jhalera bridge had been channelized and over 5000 hectare of farm land re-claimed. This target was completed in a record time of four years.
Prof. Dhumal said that the Government has proposed to carry the channelization work of remaining portion from Santokhgarh Bridge with the border of Punjab and channelize 6.70 kilometres on both banks by spending Rs. 48.59 crore. This would re-claim about 478 hectare of land.
He said that the fourth Phase of the Project was also in the pipe line which was under the active consideration of Government of India. This project aimed at channelizing 73 tributaries of Swan River in the entire district which was likely to cost about Rs. 600 crore and re-claim agriculture land measuring 6606 hectares. He said that in totality, the entire project would be completed at the cost of Rs. 1000 crore and re-claim about 14000 hectare of land in the district. This would bring prosperity in the entire district and diversified farming activities would get boost there by generating income avenues and employment and self-employment to local populace.
Irrigation & Public Health Minister, Shri Ravinder Singh Ravi, welcomed the Chief Minister and detailed the achievements and future proposals of Swan River Channelization.
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Sarveen Chaudhary, State district BJP President, Satpal Singh Satti, Chief Parliamentary Secretary Virender Kanwar, MLA Balbir Chaudhary, Vice-Chairman Water Management Board, Praveen Sharma, Former MP and Vice-Chairman Marketing Board Kripal Parmar, Former MLA and Vice-Chairman Forest Corporation, Vikram Thakur, Chairperson, Zila Parishad, Shrestha Kaundal, Chairperson, HIMFED, Santosh Saini, senior officers and prominent people of the area were also present on the occasion.
