subject: Authorities to start water transport after Chattabal weir restored in Indian Kashmir [print this page] Authorities to start water transport after Chattabal weir restored in Indian Kashmir
Authorities to start water transport after Chattabal weir restored in Indian Kashmir
Sheikh Imran Bashir
Agence India Press
December 05, 2010
Srinagar: The state administration of Indian Kashmir has planned to start water transport as the historical Chattabal weir has been restored in the region.
"This is a humble effort of the incumbent government that Chattabal weir has been restored. The water level is full. You will not see houseboats on the riverbeds. You will not see children playing in the Jhelum River. And we have also thought of giving permits for the water transport. Water buses and water taxis will be available for water transport," said Taj Mohi-ud-Din, Minister of Public Health Engineering (PHE), Irrigation and Flood control.
Taj Mohi-ud-Din added that the cost of restoration of the historical weir is 100 million.
Kashmir is known for its natural beauty, which includes a number of water bodies and Chattabal weir is one of them.
The residents of Srinagar said that with the restoration of Chattabal weir, the beauty of city has returned. Moreover, the houseboats have returned back to the rivers.
"If we talk of the benefits of this Chattabal weir, water transport is main issue. Earlier it was also important route for navigation purposes. Earlier Chattabal weir was dry, so navigation was not possible. Now the rivers are full of water. As the rivers were dry so there was a risk of houseboats base getting damaged as it used to touch the riverbed. But now this problem has been solved as the water level has been maintained. And the main point is the exposed riverbed used to give shabby and unhygienic conditions. So, with the flow of water it doesn't look shabby anymore," said Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Srinagar to Agence India Press.
The state government began the restoration work of the historical Chattabal weir in 2009, to control the water level of water bodies in valley and they got success and within days after the final construction touch weir will be functional as it was functional 106 years back when the British engineers constructed it between 1903-1907 in the valley. (AIP)
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