The Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad has visited Harwan area of the District to inspect the progress of works undertaken for restoration of Water Conservation Reservoir Sarband near Dachigam National Park.
On the occasion, the DC was informed that the 85 percent restoration work on the historic Sarband Water Conservation Reservoir has been done and balance works shall be completed within the next two months.
He was also informed that storage capacity of the Sarband is being upgraded to 215000 cum from the existing capacity of 42700 cum.
The DC directed the concerned to speed up the pace of work and complete the project in set deadline so that over 3000 souls living in Harwan, Arabal, Banigam, Mirak Abad, Shalimar and Ishbar Nishat are benefitted apart from the tourists visiting Dachigam National Park.
While inspecting the dredging work, the DC was informed that 310000 cum of silt material has been dredged from the Sarband to increase its storage capacity and smoothen the bed level of Reservoir.
With regard to the development of the surroundings of the Sarband, the DC directed the Engineers of I&FC to prepare a DPR for development of the patch of land along the Reservoir to enhance the natural beauty around the Sarband to make it a piece of attraction.
It is worth mentioning here that Harwan Sarband was the first reservoir constructed in the valley by Maharaja Hari Singh in the year 1904 to provide clean water supply to the people of Srinagar city.
The Reservoir gets water from Marsar Lake and mainly from Dachigam Nallah fed by Mahadev Glacier and its tributaries and partly from Sindh Extension Canal traversing from Preng, Kangan in District Ganderbal. The Harwan Sarband also acts as a multi-purpose project and serves the purposes of Irrigation, Domestic Water Supply and Flood Control.
Chief Planning Officer, Srinagar, Executive Engineer I&FC and other concerned officers accompanied the DC during the visit