By IANS
Panchkula (Haryana) : A crucial dam in Haryana, proposed to be located about 25 km from Chandigarh, got its foundation stone Sunday after the project remained on paper for nearly six decades.
The foundation stone of the Rs.1.18-billion Koshalya river dam, which will provide water to Haryana’s showpiece district of Panchkula and nearby areas like Chandigarh, was laid by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda near Pinjore town, 10 km from here.
Hooda said the project would be completed by September next year.
The Koshalya dam was first mooted in 1952 when Chandigarh city was being founded and Haryana had not yet been carved out of the united Punjab as a separate state. Haryana was created Nov 1, 1966.
Even Hooda had to publicly acknowledge that the proposed dam remained on paper for nearly three decades after Haryana came into existence.
“In the past every chief minister in Haryana used to talk about this dam, but its construction was never taken up. We have now actually put it on ground and it will be completed by September next year,” said Hooda.
He regretted that several dams and irrigation projects had been proposed in the past but were never implemented.
Koshalya river is a tributary of the Ghaggar river flowing through this district and crossing over into Punjab.
Haryana’s Financial Commissioner (irrigation) R.N. Prasher acknowledged that the first report on the Koshalya dam was prepared in 1952 – nearly 56 years ago.
The chief minister said his government decided to construct four dams on the Ghaggar river and its tributaries. While Koshalya dam will be one, the other three will be at Diwanwala, Dangrana and Chhamala.
The 34-metre high Koshalya dam will have a catchment area of 77 square km and a reservoir of 1.06 sq km.
Hooda told officials to construct the dam in such a manner that it also becomes a tourist place. He suggested that the road on top of the dam should be four-laned.