Jammu: Minister for the Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and the Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office; Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, Dr. Jitendra Singh today laid the foundation stone for the work of ‘construction of balance portion of Ravi Canal’ of ShahpurKandi Dam Project at Basantpur,Kathua, Jammu.
During the foundation laying ceremony, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the history has finally been written today when this much demanded project has been inaugurated after a gap of 60 years since the Indus water treaty came into being. This dream project of J&K has been possible only after Prime Minister, Narendra Modi took every effort for it for the welfare of the people of this region, Dr. Singh added.
The Minister further said that the consecutive Governments did not take this project seriously for one or the other reasons and it’s inauguration is possible only today after Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi made personal efforts for it after it was brought to his notice.
Calculating the innumerable benefits of this project, Dr. Jitendra Singh said that this project will pave a way for an attractive tourist destination at this place when water will be released from the Dam that will flourish the business setup of this area, agricultural production will be increased, will also provide a lot of employment to the youth.
Emphasizing it’s importance, Dr. Singh said that the word ‘Kandi’ will become obsolete for the future generations of this area after this project will be completed and water released from the dam to the Kandi areas of Samba and Kathua.
When India will be celebrating its 75th independence day and many achievements will be enumerated on this important occasion, Dr. Singh reiterated that this project will be among the biggest achievements ever achieved by the Government and will be written in the golden words.
The Advisor to the Lt Governor, J&K, Shri Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar who was also present during the ceremony said that the Government has strengthened the grassroots democracy in the UT and has empowered the representatives in every respect be that DDCs, BDCs or Panchayats. He also emphasized that this is the historical day in J&K that this project has been finally inaugurated today which was languishing for many years and it will pave a way for making this Kandi region an irrigated region now.
Besides the officials of District Administration and ShahpurKandi Dam Project, Chief Engineer, ShahpurKandi Dam Project, Shri S.K Saluja, DDC Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, Kathua, BDC members, Sarpanchs and Panchs of the area were also present.
—PIB

KR Desk