IRRIGATION AND PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Major Irrigation Project Shahnehar
MAJOR IRRIGATION PROJECT SHAHNEHAR
An inter-State agreement was concluded on 4th August, 1987 between Govt.
of Punjab and Govt. of Himachal Pradesh for construction of Shahnehar
Project to provide Irrigation facilities for a total CCA of 15287 ha.
of Himachal Pradesh falling on both banks of river Beas below the Pong
Dam . This includes CCA of 3465 hect. (existing irrigated area rendered
dry ) and 11822 hect. of potential irrigable area deprived of Irrigation
facilities due to construction of Shahnehar barrage by Punjab Government
down stream of Pong Dam.
The Project envisaged construction of two lined canals viz left bank
is 33 kms. long with carrying capacity of 3.82 cums. taking off from
existing Mukerian Hydel channel to irrigate 6183 ha. of land and right
bank canal is 48.85 Kms. long with carrying capacity of 6.48 cums. to
irrigate 9104 ha. of land. It will take off from the existing guide
bundh of Shahnehar barrage to be constructed by the Punjab Govt.
There was difference of opinion between Himachal Pradesh and Punjab
Engineers regarding canal capacities and water releases to be made by
Punjab to Himachal Pradesh . Various meetings were held in Central Water
Commission, New Delhi. Finally CWC sent a detailed note containing their
recommendations to both Himachal Pradesh and Punjab Governments during
2/93. Since these recommendations were not acceptable to both Himachal
Pradesh and Punjab, CWC referred the dispute to Minister of Water Resources
for Arbitration during 8/93.
To settle the dispute between the two Govts. regarding sharing of the
cost of the Project to be constructed for providing irrigation facilities
as planned. Sh. A.B. Joshi, the then Chairman, Central Water Commission
was appointed Arbitrator, who after hearing the representatives of both
the govts. decided as under :-
| (a) | The combined capacity of the lined canal of the Project shall be 10.30 cumecs with capacity of right bank canal to be 8.50 cumecs and that of left canal 1.80 cumecs. |
| (b) | The cost of 7.08 cumecs will be shared by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh in terms of the interstate agreement dated 4th August, 1983 and the balance cost of the difference of the capacity of channel between 10.3 cumecs and 7.08 cumecs shall be borne by Himachal Pradesh. |
The award was announced on 19.05.95. The Project report
was submitted to Central Water Commission on 8th Aug. 1995. The Project
was finally cleared for its techno-economical consideration by the Technical
Advisory Committee headed by Secretary , Ministry of Water Resources
on 3rd April, 1996 . Planning Commission approved the project for the
construction of two canals on left and right banks of river Beas having
a total capacity of 10.30 cumecs for Rs. 143.32 crore, out of which
Rs. 88.49 crores was to be borne by Punjab Govt. and remaining Rs. 54.83
crore by Himachal Pradesh Govt. Shahnehar Major Irrigation Project has
been approved by the Planning Commission , Government of India for Rs.
143.32 crore on 21.2.1997. The A/A & E/S has been accorded for the
Rs. 143.90 crore ( Inclusive the cost of land development of H.P. The
above estimate was framed considering the base year as 1995.
In this approved Project, the annual funding by each state was proposed
as under:-
| Year of Constrction | Amounting as per integrated Project (Rs.in Lakh) | HP Share (Rs.in Lakh) |
Punjab (Rs.in Lakh) |
1997-98 |
2348.25 |
852.20 |
1496.05 |
1998-1999 |
2551.04 |
978.88 |
1572.16 |
1999-2000 |
2924.98 |
1055.07 |
1869.91 |
2000-2001 |
2406.39 |
864.04 |
542.35 |
2001-2002 |
3228.18 |
1351.86 |
1876.32 |
2002-2003 |
873.16 |
380.95 |
492.00 |
Total |
14332.00 |
5483.00 |
8849.00 |
The Punjab Govt. was required to release funds to the
extent of Rs. 88.49 Crore against which Rs. 66.73 crore have been released
as under:-
Amount released during 1986-87 |
Rs. 1.50 crore |
Amount released during 2000-01 |
Rs. 2.00 crore |
Amount released during 2001-02 |
Rs.11.00 crore |
Amount released during 2002-03 |
Rs.15.00 crore |
Amount released during 2004-05 |
Rs. 13.42 crore |
Amount released during 2005-06 |
Rs. 17.99 crore |
Amount released during 2005-06 |
Rs. 08.80 crore |
Amount released during 2007-08 |
Rs. 04.40crore |
Amount released during 2008-09 |
Rs. 02.33 crore |
Expenditure incurred by Punjab Govt. directly
in its Territory up to 3/05 |
Rs. 08.27 crore |
PHYSICAL PROGRESS
Construction
of Canal |
Approved Scope (in KMS) |
completed work (in KM) (up to 8/2010) |
Balance Work |
Left Bank Canal (LBC)
|
24.600 |
23.425 |
1.175 |
Right Bank Canal (RBC)
|
45.305 |
25.927 |
19.378 |
Total |
39.905 |
49.352 |
20.553 |
CCA
(in Hect.) |
Approved
Scope |
completed work (up to 3/2010) |
Balance Work |
| Left Bank Canal (LBC) | 6183 |
6030.86 |
152.14 |
| Right Bank Canal (RBC) | 9104 |
3934.94 |
5169.06 |
| Total | 15287 |
10065.80 |
5321.20 |