Jaipur Development Authority may develop four nearby dams for tourism

JAIPUR: The state water resources department has proposed to hand over four dams to the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) to develop tourist spots.
Along with Nevta dam, the department has proposed to give possession of Kukas, Kanota and Gular dam as they come in JDA’s periphery. As per the proposal, the JDA would develop areas for bird watching and boating activities.
“Both the departments have given mutual consent orally at a meeting.The proposal will be forwarded to the state government for consideration,” a senior JDA official said.
For long, the construction of ambitious Ring Road project has been stalled as the water resources department was adamant not to give possession of a small portion of Nevta dam falling in the alignment.
However, after JDA commissioner Shikhar Agarwal was transferred to the water resources department, the proposal was forwarded to transfer the dams.
Though the idea to hand over four dams has been mooted, the decision to give a portion of the Nevta dam for the Ring Road is still under consideration. According to officials, nearly 1,100 metres of irrigation land in Nevta dam overlaps the Ring Road. The main dam is nearly 1.5km away from the ‘capacity area’. The JDA was planning to take possession of the land in the catchment area like Mej dam where the JDA has constructed the road. The proposal was earlier sent to the irrigation department. However, despite several reminders, the water resources department remained adamant not to surrender the land. After the joining of Agarwal, it is expected that the matter would be expedited.
On the transfer of 1,100 metres of land, a JDA official said the agency had proposed to construct an elevated road and it would not affect the capacity of the dam. But, the idea did not receive support as it would increase the cost.