CS reviews Tawi Riverfront, artificial lake development project; Exhorts for expeditious completion

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SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today convened a meeting to review the progress achieved, so far, in development of Tawi Riverfront and artificial lake being established as part of the Jammu Smart City project.

Among others the meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti, Commissioner Secretary, H&UDD, MD HADP, CEO, JSCL, Chief Engineer, I&FC besides other concerned officers while Jammu based officers participated online.

The Chief Secretary had a detailed overview of the progress registered on different components of this mega beautification project of Jammu City. He defined the project as vital for further enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the city by giving it an upgraded look for the visitors. He impressed upon the officers to maintain inter-departmental coordination for meeting the set deadlines for project execution. He stressed on close monitoring of works by the senior officers to ensure both quality and efficiency in delivery outcomes.

Dulloo exhorted upon the concerned authorities to ensure that all the diversion works and installation of sluice gates are completed within set deadlines so that pondage of designated lake area is carried out at the earliest. He asked for ensuring completion of all allied works simultaneously by the Smart City and other executing agencies so that the project gets accomplished at an earliest.

The Chief Secretary enquired about the quantum of work still pending on diversion work of each nallah on the right and left bank of the lake.

Earlier, ACS, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, presented a broad overview of the works being carried out by his department for development of the lake inside the Tawi river from 4th bridge up to Gujjar Nagar in first phase. He informed that the works included construction of 4 promenades and embankments for a length of 2.7 km on both sides of the river from Bhagwati Nagar Barrage to Bikram Bridge including central island as part of phase first of this project. He added that the project, being established with an estimated cost of Rs 191.15 crore, is expected to be completed by September this year with an aggregate progress of nearly 80% on all of its components.

Regarding physical progress of the project, the updated photographs of the works carried out on right and left banks including the central island were displayed during the meeting.

In another presentation, Commissioner Secretary, H&UDD, Mandeep Kaur, also detailed out the possible land use pattern on both the banks. She explained that the intended land use includes for development of land parcels for residential, commercial and recreational purpose.