Swan river channelisation to be taken up with Punjab

Dhumal, who was intervening in the discussion started by Una MLA Satpal Satti under Rule 63, said the state government would take up the matter of channelisation of Swan river with the Punjab Chief Minister. He pointed out that the Punjab government has been objecting to the channelisation of the river in these panchayats, fearing that the water will flow into its territory and cause damage there.

However, he said the matter would be sorted out by holding discussions with the Punjab government and work to channelise the remaining part of the river would be taken up later.

Replying to the discussion, Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Singh Ravi informed the House that of the total Rs 235 crore needed for the channelisation of Swan river, 90 per cent is a grant from the Centre and the state has to shell out only 10 per cent of the total expenditure.

The IPH Minister informed the House that during the second phase of the channelisation, work will be done on both banks, the total length of which is 56 kilometres. He said 5,000 hectares would be reclaimed after the channelisation. He said the total length of the river is 85 kilometres and of this, 65 kilometres fall in Himachal territory.

The Minister said during the first phase, a total of 34 kilometres of both banks of the river have been channelised at an expenditure of nearly Rs 70 crore and 2,260 hectares reclaimed.

Besides, the channelisation of 73 tributaries of Swan river is also going on at some places simultaneously, he said. The Minister said after the channelisation of the river, not only has land been reclaimed, but wildlife has also been saved.

Earlier, initiating the discussion, Satpal Satti accused the previous Congress government of not giving required attention towards the river and praised the Dhumal government.

However, Mukesh Agnihotri, sitting Congress MLA from Santokhgarh, rebutted this charge and urged the Chief Minister to take up with the Punjab government the issue of third phase of channelisation of the river. He accused Satti of politicising the matter.

Virender Kanwar of the BJP also took part in the discussion.