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Jhelum River Conservation Project
for Four Towns in J&K State
Assignment
from:
J&K Lakes and Waterways
Development Authority, Srinagar
Funding Agency:
National River Conservation
Directorate, MoEF, Govt. of India
Location :
Anantnag, Srinagar, Sopore and
Baramulla in J&K state, India.
Jhelum River,
J&K
Description of
the Project:
The Jhelum river drains the
Kashmir valley and it originates from a small spring at
Verinag though its true source is a few kilometers further to
South East. The four streams viz. Sundran, Bringi, Arapath and
Lidder join the Jhelum close to Anantnag near Khanabal. The
length of the Jhelum from its source to Baramulla is 241 Kms.
The major towns contributing pollution to the river, which are
identified in the first phase, are Anantnag, Srinagar, Sopore
and Baramulla. Schemes for pollution abatement under the
Jhelum River Conservation Plan (JRCP) are proposed to be
implemented in these towns. The investment costs for the
implementation of the schemes shall be borne by the Govt. of
India. The costs for operation and maintenance of the assets
to be created under the project shall be fully borne by the
J&K State Govt.
The wastewater from these towns
is discharged into nalahs, drains, canals, which ultimately
reach the river Jhelum and is the main source of its
pollution.
River Jhelum is one of the source
of drinking water supply for Srinagar, Sopore and Baramulla.
With high growth of urban areas and increase in development
which includes increase in supply of drinking water,
augmentation of sewerage systems, the quantum of untreated
wastewater and solid waste is rapidly increasing. It is
therefore imperative to undertake remedial measures for
prevention of pollution of river Jhelum by formulating schemes
for environmental infrastructure works to intercept, divert
and treat the domestic and industrial wastewater.
Emphasis was laid on appropriate
treatment technologies and resource recovery from sewage/sullage,
by using the treated sewage for irrigation, the sludge for
manure. The schemes under the JRCP will be implemented by the
J&K state government through its identified nodal agency, J&K
Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LWWDA), Srinagar.
The project lays a strong emphasis on public participation and
institutional development to sustain the programme in the long
term. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, GoI, is co-ordinating
the overall implementation of the programme through the
National River Conservation Directorate with its head quarters
at New Delhi.
The following categories of works
are taken up under this programme.
-
Interception & Diversion of
municipal wastewater
-
Sewage treatment
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Low cost sanitation
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Improved crematoria
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Solid Waste Management
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Bio-monitoring and Water
Quality Monitoring studies
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Improvement of ghats
-
Afforestation along the river
banks
-
Community participation
-
Institutional Development and
Training
The programme also addresses the
problems of siltation, bank erosion and agricultural run-off
containing pesticides and fertilisers with the help and close
interaction with the concerned nodal ministries. The
Bio-diversity of the river will be studied and monitored to
restore its ecological status.
While the schemes under the
Jhelum River Conservation Plan are being implemented on the
same lines as in Ganga Action Plan Phase - I, special emphasis
is being laid in order to reduce the cost on sewage conveyance
and minimising the energy needs for pumping the sewage.
Efforts are being made to decentralise the sewage conveyance
and treatment facilities. Also a strong emphasis is being laid
on the sustainability of project investments by adopting an
Integrated Approach in Project Planning, Formulation,
Implementation and giving adequate attention to Community
Participation, Gender issues, Institutional Development &
Operation and Maintenance aspects.
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