New Delhi: Union Minister of State Dr. Jitendra Singh has announced that the long-pending Ujh Multipurpose Project in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir has been revived by the Narendra Modi Government, describing it as a major development for both Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab after nearly a century of delay.
Sharing the update, Dr. Jitendra Singh said he held a detailed review meeting with officials of WAPCOS Ltd. and the Ministry of Jal Shakti to discuss the implementation roadmap for the revamped project. He said the Centre has prepared a comprehensive plan to ensure the project’s timely execution.
According to the Minister, the project will directly benefit the Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir, along with Pathankot and Gurdaspur districts of Punjab. Once completed, it will provide irrigation facilities to nearly 90,000 hectares of agricultural land, significantly improving agricultural productivity in the region.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said the project will also ensure a reliable supply of drinking water to Kathua district while meeting the growing industrial water requirements, creating new opportunities for economic growth, employment and regional development.
He said the project will be implemented in a phased manner, with construction work beginning immediately while the acquisition of the remaining land continues simultaneously. This approach, he added, will help avoid unnecessary delays and expedite the project’s completion. The implementing agency has already begun work on the project site and related preparatory activities.
Highlighting its strategic significance, Dr. Jitendra Singh said the Ujh Multipurpose Project also has an important national security and border management dimension. He noted that the project will help address vulnerable cross-border infiltration routes along the riverbed, thereby strengthening security infrastructure in the border region.
The Minister said the revival of the long-delayed project reflects the Central Government’s commitment to accelerating infrastructure development in Jammu and Kashmir while improving irrigation, drinking water availability, industrial growth and border security in the region.