Kajauli project: HC directs authorities to hold meeting and resolve dispute

The Punjab government had not given its consent to release water to Chandigarh for the project. The civic body had mooted Augmentation of Water Supply Scheme Phase V and VI.

Under the scheme,40 million gallons daily (MGD) additional water would be received. After giving Punjab and Haryana their share,the city would receive 29 MGD of water.

The Central government had recently approved a grant of around Rs 119.1 crore for the scheme under the Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). However,till the Punjab government gives its approval,no progress is possible.

The city receives 113 MGD water daily. Of this,around 80 MGD is canal water and the remaining is pumped through tubewells. The officials of the Municipal Corporation say the argument of the Punjab government is that Chandigarh is already drawing its fair share of water.

The Central government in its affidavit had clearly stated that if the three states did not resolve the dispute,the fund issued by the Central government would go waste as it had to be spent within a stipulated period of time. The authorities have been directed to hold a meeting to resolve the dispute and file a status report by the next date of hearing in May.

When the land for the project was acquired,Chandigarh had paid two-thirds of the compensation amount and Punjab one-third. The total cost of the project is around Rs 171 crore while the Centre had approved Rs 130 crore.

Chandigarh,which was planned for a population of five lakh,now has more than double that number. Rehabilitation colonies have come up over the years. Proposals are on the anvil to rehabilitate slum dwellers who have encroached upon land in the city. Tubewells are drying up due to the receding water table. Due to all these factors,there is need to enhance water supply to the city.