River Tawi Front Project: Rs 84 cr being spent to prevent drains from polluting ‘Suryaputri’

Saroor
Jammu, Jan 03: To make River Tawi pollution free, the Jammu Municipal Corporation is spending around Rs 84 crores to prevent drains from gushing into the river.
Notably, River Tawi populary known as ‘Suryaputri’ has religious importance and faith among Jammu populace.
Official sources said that the Municipal Corporation and Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) will stop 18 drains gushing into Suryaputri River for which Rs 83.36 crores is being spent.
It is claimed that after May 2024, 90 percent Tawi will be cleaned and under the project, the garbage and filth from the houses and drains will not reach the river.
“The garbage is already being collected and processed at Belichrana and Bhagwati Nagar sewerage plants,” they added.
Sources said that as of now, work worth Rs 49 crore has been completed in the Tawi.
“Works worth Rs 9.39 crore are going on and tenders for Rs 24.97 crore will be floated soon,” they said adding that the work is expected to be completed by March.
Sources said that five drains in Tawi from Gorkha Nagar, Rajeev Nagar, Qasim Nagar (on the left) and Dhonthali, Julaka Mohalla, Peerkho Main, Gujjar Nagar, Jogi Gate, Prem Nagar, Christian Colony, Krishna Nagar and Bhagwati Nagar are being shifted and prevented from entering the river water.
As many as 13 streams fall from the Forth Bridge (right side) while the garbage from Gorkha Nagar will be diverted to Belicharana.
Sources further added sewerage has been laid for 25 km in Bahu Fort, Gorkha Nagar, Qasim Nagar and Rajiv Nagar, adding, “Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is being set up in Belichrana for which 3 plants have been built near Tawi.”
It is also claimed that out of 13 drains on the right side, work is going on six and tender for four is pending.
“The garbage from the drains will be shifted to the sewage treatment plant in Bhagwati Nagar and there is a plan to use the treated water for other purposes. This work is likely to be completed in May,” they said.
Sources further added that there is a leakage in the sewerage line at some place and many households near Nagrota bypass are still dumping sewarage into the river, which needs an immediate attention.
“Once the project is completed, Tawi will be 90 percent clean and rest 10 percent cleanliness depends on the general public as they have to play a major role,” said an official.
He further added that the work was necessary for Tawi River Front and Artificial Lake, which is being undertaken on priority.