As HP plans second dam on Kaushalya river, Haryana: ‘not without our consent’

While the project’s hydraulic design was approved in June, the Jal Shakti department of Dharampur Sub Division on Friday sent it to the Himachal Pradesh government to further forward it to the Centre seeking funds under National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

This comes amid ongoing tussles between Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana over water from the Pong dam, under Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and Satluj Yamuna Link canal. Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had earlier said that he seeks the state’s legitimate share on the river water within its territorial jurisdiction being used for hydro-power projects, irrigation, and drinking purposes.

The first dam on Kaushalya river, was constructed by the Haryana government in 2012, to protect the state from flash floods and also supply water to Panchkula district. However, the Haryana government now says that the second dam would impact the storage capacity of Kaushalya Dam in Pinjore.

Talking to The Indian Express, Bhanu Uday, assistant engineer (SDO) of the Jal Shakti Sub division in Dharampur, said that with a reservoir capacity of around 1 crore litres, the construction of this dam on Kaushalya river will permanently do away with the water woes of the people of more than 50 villages in Kasauli constituency. “The dam, which is yet to be named, will be around 13-m high and 10-m deep. We have sent the proposal to the Himachal Pradesh government from where it will be forwarded to NABARD for funding,” said Uday, adding that after approvals, the process of land acquisition will start.

He added that the hydraulic designs of the project are ready and the structural designs will be approved after technical nods. “After the state’s approval, we will decide on silt factors, the type of structure, the kind of gates required etc. Since the dam to be constructed is way smaller than the one at Pinjore, no approval is needed from the Haryana government,” Uday said.

However, CEO of State Water Regulatory Authority, Haryana, Satbir Singh Kadian said that as per the Ghaggar Standing Committee, Himachal Pradesh will have to get consent from the Haryana government.

“Following that, clearances will have to be taken from the Central Water Commission (CWC), which is an apex body in deliberating all issues pertaining to water. Planning to construct another dam on the same river would not only be an ecological disaster but will also affect the water storage of the dam in Pinjore. If less water comes to us, it would also impact the flow of Ghaggar river and subsequently its existence,” said Kadian, who is also the engineer-in-chief of Haryana Irrigation Department. He added that neither the hill state has contacted Haryana or has it approved the CWC. “NABARD will not approve a project till it has all the clearances,” he said.

A senior official of Haryana Irrigation and Water Resources Department added that under the CWC, no construction can be done on Ghaggar river or its catchment area without our NOC. Even as residents welcomed the decision of constructing a dam on Kaushalya river, an ecologist said that constructing another dam, even a smaller one on the same river would mean disaster for the ecology of the area. “Putting another dam on the same river will not only affect the flora and fauna of the region but will also end up killing the river,” he said.