Ujh multipurpose project revival raises hopes of economic transformation
Srinagar, Aug 29:The revival of the long-delayed Ujh Multipurpose Project in Kathua district has raised hopes of an economic transformation in the region, with the ambitious project expected to expand irrigation, generate hydropower, and strengthen water availability for households and industry. The project, located on the Ujh river, a major tributary of the Ravi, envisages a 380-feet-high concrete-faced rockfill dam and a power house expected to generate between 186 MW and 212 MW of electricity. Declared a national project in 2008, the scheme remained stalled for years. Its revival has now brought renewed attention to its potential to benefit communities in Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as Pathankot and Gurdaspur in neighbouring Punjab. It has been discussed for years, and people here have been waiting to see the project move forward. If completed as planned, it could bring major changes to the area, said Akshay Kumar, a resident of Kathua. The project is designed to provide irrigation to nearly 90,000 hectares of agricultural land across Kathua and Samba in J&K and Pathankot and Gurdaspur in Punjab. For farmers in the region, the availability of irrigation water could reduce dependence on rainfall and support more reliable agricultural production. The project was revived due to the efforts of Union Minister Jitendra Singh. Earlier, water was not reaching the tail-end areas, but with the completion of this project, many villages in the tail-end areas of Kathua and Samba districts will receive irrigation water, MLA Samba Surjeet Singh Slathia told Greater Kashmir. He said the project would prove to be a major milestone for the farming community in the two districts, as improved irrigation would help bring more land under cultivation, strengthen agricultural productivity and provide greater relief to farmers in the tail-end villages. The project will also supply drinking water to Kathua district and make water available for industrial use, potentially supporting new investments and employment in the region. Work on the project is being taken up in phases, with construction-related activities and land acquisition progressing simultaneously, according to officials. Locals say the projects impact could extend beyond agriculture and power generation, with the reservoir and associated infrastructure potentially creating opportunities in tourism, transport, hospitality and other sectors. The project also has a significant strategic dimension because of its location near the international border. Backed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the project is expected to help regulate water flows more effectively and strengthen surveillance and management along vulnerable stretches of the riverbed that could otherwise be used as infiltration routes. The project is also expected to enhance Indias utilisation of the waters of the eastern rivers allocated to it under the Indus Waters Treaty. At present, part of the Ujhs flow crosses the international border without being fully utilised on the Indian side. The project aims to harness a greater share of this water for irrigation, drinking water, industry, and power generation.
Punjab delegation calls on LG Sinha
Jammu, Aug 20: A public delegation from Punjab, led by S. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Member of Legislative Assembly from Ajnala, Amritsar, called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday and briefed him on recurring monsoon overflows from the Ujh River affecting several parts of Punjab. The delegation requested the Lieutenant Governor to take up the matter with the Prime Minister and the Union Minister for Jal Shakti for construction of a suitable dam or reservoir project on River Ujh, or any other technically feasible flood-moderation measure, after undertaking a comprehensive feasibility study and preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR). The delegation highlighted that such a project could help regulate and maintain the flow of River Ujh and mitigate flood situations in several districts of Punjab, including Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Amritsar, particularly Ajnala Sub-Division. It was further submitted that besides flood management, a reservoir project could facilitate the storage of excess monsoon water for future use, while also offering potential for hydroelectric power generation and promoting tourism, water-sports and recreational activities in the area. The delegation said the proposed intervention could contribute to long-term water management, strengthen flood resilience and support sustainable economic development in the region. The Lieutenant Governor assured the delegation that the issue would be given due consideration and taken up with the concerned authorities for technical evaluation.
The Cost of Carelessness on Our Roads
Three lives were cut short, and three more were left injured in a single moment of loss of control on the Jalandhar-Pathankot National Highway on Sunday. The crash near Cholang Toll Plaza, involving a Fronx car moving from Jalandhar towards Pathankot, is yet another grim reminder that our roads continue to exact a terrible price, often from errors that should never turn fatal. The dead, including two residents of Batamaloo in Srinagar, have been identified as Sukhwinder Singh, Ikhlaq Qadir and Aneek Amin. For their families, this is not a statistic or a passing headline. It is an abrupt, unbearable rupture. A routine journey, a roadside vendor standing beside his cart, a vehicle that allegedly lost control and within seconds, lives were forever altered. Such tragedies reveal how fragile safety remains on our highways, where one lapse can become irreversible loss. It is tempting, after every accident, to settle for sympathy alone. But sympathy is not enough. The first duty of the state is to ensure that highways are designed, regulated and monitored with seriousness. The second is to enforce traffic discipline without exception. The third is to make drivers answerable for speed, fatigue, distraction and reckless behaviour. When police say the cause is being investigated, the public must demand more than a routine formality. Was the vehicle speeding? Was the driver tired? Was there a mechanical fault? Was the stretch of road properly marked and maintained? These are not secondary questions; they are the very questions that determine whether such deaths are prevented tomorrow. The accident also exposes a wider truth about our road culture. We continue to treat highway travel as an everyday inconvenience rather than a matter of life and death. Overspeeding, poor lane discipline, careless overtaking and weak enforcement have normalised danger. Commercial traffic, private vehicles and vulnerable roadside workers all share the same space, but not the same protection. The vendor who was struck beside his cart is a tragic symbol of how exposed ordinary people remain to fast-moving traffic with little safety buffer. There is also a moral dimension to this disaster. A road is not just a stretch of asphalt; it is a public space where responsibility must be shared by drivers, transport authorities, police and policymakers alike. Every fatal crash that follows familiar patterns should compel a review of road engineering, signage, patrol presence and emergency response. It is not enough to arrive after the collision. The real test is whether the system can stop the collision from happening. The grief of the bereaved families in Srinagar and elsewhere should shake us out of complacency. Three killed and three injured is not a routine incident to be filed away. It is an indictment of a road system that still permits preventable deaths with disturbing regularity. Unless accountability becomes stricter and road safety becomes a political priority, the same sorrow will return, wearing a different name and a different date.
Three Killed, Three Injured in Jalandhar Road Accident
JALANDHAR: Three people, including two residents of Batamaloo in Srinagar, were killed and three others injured after a car lost control, crashed into a roadside tree and then rammed into a vendor on the Jalandhar-Pathankot National Highway on Sunday afternoon. The accident took place at around 2:20 pm near Cholang Toll Plaza, when a Fronx car bearing registration number JK01BC8358 was travelling from Jalandhar towards Pathankot. According to preliminary information, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle, following which the car crashed into a tree before hitting a local vendor who was standing beside his cart. The collision was severe, leaving three people dead on the spot. The deceased have been identified as Sukhwinder Singh (50), a resident of Chak Shakoor, Ikhlaq Qadir and Aneek Amin. Three others sustained injuries in the accident and were provided first aid before being shifted to Civil Hospital, Tanda, where they are undergoing treatment. Soon after the incident, police and highway patrol teams reached the spot and initiated rescue operations. The damaged vehicle was seized and the belongings of the victims were recovered from the accident site. Police said the recovered items included seven kit bags, a laptop, three wallets containing Rs 4,400 in cash and cards, a wristwatch, two mobile phones and two mobile chargers. The belongings were handed over to Bhogpur police station. The families of the deceased have been informed, while police have initiated legal proceedings and are investigating the circumstances leading to the accident.
Security beefed up as Cong, PDP, NC to observe Aug 5 as
Jammu Tawi, Aug 4 : Security has been intensified across the Jammu region, particularly along the Jammu-Srinagar and Jammu-Pathankot national highways, as the National Conference (NC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Congress have announced separate protests to observe August 5 as Black Day. August 5 marks the seventh anniversary of the Centres decision [] The post Security beefed up as Cong, PDP, NC to observe Aug 5 as Black Day appeared first on Northlines .
Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh on Sunday stated that the delay in implementation of the Ujh multipurpose project and the Shahpurkandi project resulted in the waters of the Ravi river and its tributaries continuing to flow into Pakistan although India controlled it (Ravi), even when the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) was in force. He asserted that the revival of Ujh after a hiatus of 100 years and Shahpurkandi project, which was almost completed, would optimise the use of Ravi water and 90,000 hectares of agricultural land in four districts of J&K and Punjab would get irrigation facilities after the phased completion of Ujh project. Dr Jitendra was reviewing the status and phased implementation roadmap of the Ujh multipurpose project (MPP) in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, in a meeting held in the union capital on August 2, 2026. The Ujh multipurpose project, located on the Ujh river, a main tributary of the Ravi River, is designed to generate around 186 MW to 212 MW of electricity. Besides bolstering irrigation and drinking water facilities, it also has an important security and border-management dimension and is backed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to restrict unregulated water flows and plug vulnerable cross-border infiltration routes along the riverbed. In a detailed meeting with the officials of Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) Limited, a Government of India undertaking under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, which has been entrusted with the implementation of the project, the Union Minister, on Sunday, August 2, 2026, emphasised the need for expeditious implementation so that the benefits of the strategically important project reached the people at the earliest. Dr Jitendra, who is also the Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences besides being the Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, advised WAPCOS to explore innovative solutions and implementation strategies while maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety and efficiency. The Minister was informed that the project was being taken up in a phased manner. Work will commence while acquisition of the remaining land is pursued simultaneously, without waiting for completion of the entire land acquisition process. The implementing agency is also working out the project site and related requirements, it was stated. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra said, long-pending national projects were being taken forward with renewed urgency. He noted that the Ujh multipurpose project, conceived nearly a century ago, had remained in limbo for decades, while the Shahpurkandi project had remained pending for about four decades. The delay in implementation of these projects resulted in the waters of the Ravi river and its tributaries continuing to flow into Pakistan. Even when the Indus Waters Treaty was in force, Ravi, Satluj and Beas were Indias three rivers under the Treaty, with Ravi being the major river among them, he maintained, adding that the Treaty was currently in abeyance. Dr Jitendra said, The revival of the Shahpurkandi project in 2019, which is now almost complete and the revival of the Ujh multipurpose project in 2026 reflect the governments resolve under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to realise long-delayed projects, optimise the use of Indias water resources and deliver tangible benefits to the people. The Ujh multipurpose project is expected to provide irrigation to nearly 90,000 hectares of agricultural land in Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir and Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts of Punjab. The project will also supply drinking water to Kathua district and provide industrial water availability. The project is expected to strengthen agricultural productivity, improve water security, create new opportunities for economic development and contribute to the overall socio-economic progress of the Union Territory. Dr Jitendra reviewed the implementation milestones in detail and stressed the need for close coordination among all stakeholders and effective monitoring for timely execution. He assured WAPCOS of the governments full support and cooperation for the successful implementation and timely completion of the prestigious project.
Punjab Chief Minister to Disburse Honorarium Under Mawan-Dhiyan Sewa Scheme for 3.55 Million Women
Chandigarh, August 1: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will launch the disbursement of honorarium under the Mawan-Dhiyan Sewa Scheme from Pathankot on Saturday. According to government officials, a total of 3.55 million women will receive the honorarium directly in their bank accounts. Previously, 3.3 million women had already benefited from this scheme. This means ... Read more Punjab Chief Minister to Disburse Honorarium Under Mawan-Dhiyan Sewa Scheme for 3.55 Million Women
ED conducts search operations for illegal sand mining in Pathankot
Chandigarh, July 20 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorates zonal office in Jalandhar in Punjab on Monday said it has conducted search operations under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering
Good News For UP, Bihar Travellers: Chhapra-Pathankot Weekly Special Train From July 20
Train will have 19 coaches, including AC Second Class, AC Third Class, Third AC Economy, Sleeper Class, General Second Class, and luggage-cum-generator coaches.
MHA tags 17 from Pakistan and 6 Indians 'individual terrorists'
India has declared 23 individuals from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir as terrorists, targeting Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish operatives. Home Minister Amit Shah stated these individuals are involved in anti-India activities, including terror attacks and recruitment. The designated terrorists are linked to significant attacks like Pathankot and the Rameshwaram Cafe blast, with some also involved in reconnaissance for future strikes. This move underscores the government's firm stance against terrorism.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh has announced that the long-pending Shahpur Kandi Project on the River Ravi is nearing completion, raising hopes among farmers in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba and Kathua districts. The project is expected to bring irrigation to over 32,000 hectares of barren land in the Kandi belt and benefit thousands of hectares in Punjab's Pathankot district.
Four Injured After Car Skids Off Road, Rolls Into River In Bhaderwah
DODA, June 5: Four injured after a car skidded off the road and plunged into a river near Nalthi Park in the Bhaderwah area of Jammu and Kashmirs Doda district on Friday, officials said. The accident occurred when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll down into the river, they said. Rescue teams rushed to the spot and shifted the occupants to Sub-District Hospital, Bhaderwah, for treatment. The injured, all residents of Pathankot in Punjab, have [] The post Four Injured After Car Skids Off Road, Rolls Into River In Bhaderwah appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
One more held in Patiala rail track blast
CHANDIGARH, May 2: Punjab Police on Saturday said it has arrested one more person in connection with the freight corridor railway track blast in Shambhu in Patiala. Gurjinder Singh alias Baba Beant has been arrested by the State Special Operation Cell in Amritsar, Patiala Police and Counter Intelligence wing in Pathankot in a joint operation, said Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp Gurjinder is a key associate of Jagroop Singh, who was killed [] The post One more held in Patiala rail track blast appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
