Rain delays Baglihar project

‘‘Out of total 18 blocks of the dam, water has clogged six. We are looking to how the water can be diverted,’’ Basharat Ahmed Dhar, Secretary-cum-Commissioner of J&K Power Development Department told The Indian Express on telephone from the dam site.

After DT-I got blocked, causing an overflow in the Chenab river, senior officers including Dhar, JKPDC managing Director M A Bhat, chief engineer of the project B L Garu, took stock of the situation at Chanderkote, the dam site.

Sources said that delay in the project and repairs due to damages caused in recent heavy rains will cost over Rs 300 crore to the Baglihar project. A project bridge was also damaged in the rains.

State Power Minister Mohammad Sharief Niaz had also visited the site yesterday .