New Delhi, Aug 2: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Saturday reviewed the implementation roadmap for the Ujh Multipurpose Project (UPP) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district, announcing that the long-pending project has been revived after nearly a century and will be executed in phases.
Chairing a high-level meeting with officials from WAPCOS Ltd and the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Dr Singh stressed the need for speedy implementation to ensure that the benefits of the strategically important project reach the people without delay.
He urged the implementing agency to adopt innovative construction and execution strategies while maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficiency.
Officials informed the Minister that the project would be taken up in a phased manner. Construction work will begin while the acquisition of the remaining land continues simultaneously, avoiding delays linked to the completion of the entire land acquisition process. Preparations related to the project site and other logistical requirements are also underway.
Dr Singh said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several long-pending national infrastructure projects have gained fresh momentum. He noted that while the Ujh Multipurpose Project had remained stalled for nearly 100 years, the Shahpurkandi Project had also remained pending for around four decades before being revived.
He said the prolonged delay in implementing these projects resulted in the waters of the Ravi River and its tributaries continuing to flow into Pakistan without being fully utilised by India.
The Minister observed that even when the Indus Waters Treaty was operational, the Ravi, Beas and Sutlej were allocated to India, with the Ravi being the principal river among them. He added that the treaty is currently in abeyance.
Dr Singh said the revival of the Shahpurkandi Project in 2019 and the Ujh Multipurpose Project in 2026 reflects the government’s commitment to harness India’s water resources, complete long-delayed infrastructure projects, and maximise benefits for citizens.
Located on the Ujh River, a major tributary of the Ravi, the project is expected to generate 186–212 MW of hydroelectric power and provide irrigation to nearly 90,000 hectares of agricultural land across Kathua and Samba districts in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts in Punjab.
The project will also supply drinking water to Kathua district and ensure water availability for industrial use, while improving agricultural productivity, strengthening water security, and supporting regional economic development.
Officials said the project also has significant strategic and border-management importance. Backed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, it aims to regulate water flows more effectively and help reduce vulnerabilities along riverbed infiltration routes near the international border.
Reviewing the implementation milestones, Dr Singh called for close coordination among all stakeholders and robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure timely completion. He assured WAPCOS of the Centre’s full support for the successful execution of the prestigious project.
