To discuss and resolve various issues impending execution of Sawalkote Hydel Project, District Development Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Aijaz today convened a joint meeting of engineers of State Power Development Corporation (SPDC), project managers of construction companies and officers of revenue and forest.The main issues discussed in the meeting included status of land acquisition, forest clearance, construction of link road, abetments for bridge, establishment of workers colonies, realignment of road from Ramban to Sawalkote, shifting of utilities and many other issues impending mega project.The meeting was attended by Collector for Sawalkote project (SDM Gool) Zameer Reshu, Chief Engineer JKSPDC Mohd Hanif, Nodal officer Swalkote Project Vijay Nagri, XEN CCD-1 Sawalkote Rakesh Sharma, HCC Project Manager Ravinder Singh, A/M HCC Ajit Singh, DFO Amrik Singh and other officers.
Underlining the importance of the ambitious project, District Development Commissioner instructed the officers and engineers to conduct joint inspections. He also stressed on needful monitoring of the works required for smooth execution of the Hydel project. He directed the Collector Land Acquisition for early completion of the pending land acquisition process. District Development Commissioner also emphasised on early completion of abetments work for bridge on Sawalkote road and proper demarcation of forest land already acquired by the corporation along project site. He also said that full support shall be given to corporation for smooth execution of the Hydel Project which is otherwise a hope of rural masses in general and development of these hilly pockets in particular. He further envisioned that periodical meetings shall be conducted for reviewing the progress of different works associated with mega hydel project.
Earlier, Collector Sawalkote Project informed that a total of 19 villages of Gool and Ramban are to be affected by the project out of which the land acquisition for 7 has been completed so far besides acquiring the land for constructing workers colonies at village Tanger. Chief Engineer JKPDC also informed that for transporting machinery and other equipments to the project site, smooth connectivity is the prime concern which is possible only if concerned agencies extend full help in this regard. He further added that all the formalities have been completed and possibly the work for main project shall be taken up next year.Meanwhile, Nodal officer Sawalkote Project disclosed that provision for shifting of utilities have already inserted in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and all existing structures and installations of some departments to be affected by the project stands identified. Every possible efforts have been made to reduce the interference from the external side responsible for interrupting the work.