JAMMU, Aug 14 — The Union government has accelerated long-pending projects in the Jammu region to optimise river water usage, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday, noting that the last phase of the Shahpur-Kandi power project is expected to be completed by September 15.
“The water will start flowing through it for the generation of electricity,” Dr. Singh said during a DISHA meeting, highlighting that the project, a national initiative, was revised after four decades following the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He added that the project aims to reduce the surplus flow of the Ravi River downstream to Pakistan’s Madhopur Headworks, ensuring more water is available for Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab.
Dr. Singh also shared updates on the Ujh multipurpose project, originally conceived in the 1920s by Maharaja Hari Singh. “There’s good news to share that the Ujh project has now been revived, and a coordination working group has been constituted with officers from the Jammu and Kashmir UT and the central government,” he said.
The minister noted that the project gained momentum through involvement from the home and defence ministries, which are keen to address infiltration routes along the Ujh River. “Once functional, it will provide irrigation to thousands of hectares of land, potentially reaching up to 90,000 hectares. For surplus water not to flow into Pakistan, a joint plan is also being prepared by J&K, Punjab, and the central government,” he added.
India has put the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan on hold following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 tourists and injured dozens. Under the 1960 treaty, India has rights to the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej — while Pakistan controls the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab — with India permitted limited non-consumptive use of the latter.
Dr. Singh said India is steadily advancing four hydel power projects on the Chenab and its tributaries in Jammu and Kashmir, with commissioning expected in 2027-28. “These projects reflect India’s continued focus on utilising water resources in J&K responsibly,” he noted.
In another key development, Dr. Singh said the industrial biotech park in Barnoti — the 11th such park in India and the first in North India — will become operational in the coming weeks through public-private collaboration. “This will create jobs, manufacturing opportunities, and business avenues for youngsters in biomanufacturing and hospital instruments,” he said.
Addressing border safety initiatives, the minister said Kathua district was the first to implement a family bunker system covering around 2,000 families in border villages. “Other border areas are now following this as a model. Meanwhile, 1,048 additional bunkers have been proposed, bringing the total to nearly 3,000 in the Kathua border region,” he added.
The DISHA meeting was attended by MLA Jasrota Rajiv Jasrotia, other district MLAs, and senior officers from the district administration.
