412 illegal structures removed from Jhelum banks, beautification work underway: Rana

Srinagar, Mar 13: Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmed Rana, on Thursday informed the Assembly that 412 illegal structures, including both permanent (pacca) and temporary (kacha) constructions, along with 301 boundary walls and 3,35,704 trees, have been removed from the banks of river Jhelum as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to restore the river’s natural flow and beauty.
This comes in response to a starred question raised by former Speaker and MLA Mubarak Gul regarding the ongoing development and beautification of the Jhelum Bund, the removal of encroachments along the riverbanks, and the functioning of the Chattabal Weir.
Responding to Gul’s queries, Minister Rana emphasized that the removal of encroachments on water bodies, including river Jhelum, is a continuous process and remains a top priority for the department. He added that “strict instructions have been issued to all field officers to maintain a vigilant watch and take immediate action in case of any reported encroachments.”
Regarding the beautification of the Jhelum Bund, the minister stated that the project is being executed by the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department, for which funds were provided under the Smart City Project, under the aegis of the Housing and Urban Development Department (H&UDD).
“The total Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the initiative was approved at a cost of Rs 68.02 crores by the CEO of the Smart City Project,” Rana stated. “Several works under this project have been carried out, including the beautification of Bund Road, improved accesses, parks, illumination, public amenities, social spaces and Ghats, covering the area from Zero Bridge to Amira Kadal.”
He further explained that the project, which was allotted Rs 31.41 crores, is 80% complete and still in progress. Additionally, slope protection and stone pitching have been implemented to prevent erosion and resectioning of blockades along the riverbanks. “This segment of the project was completed at a cost of Rs 7.91 crores,” he said.
Further, the Jhelum Riverfront Development from Amira Kadal to Chattabal Weir, which includes additional beautification of Bund Road, parks, and public spaces, was allotted Rs 17.82 crores and is currently 90% complete.
Minister Rana also addressed concerns regarding the Chattabal Weir, stating that the structure remains fully operational. He said that “the weir primarily helps maintain navigable water depth for boats during the winter season.”