CHHATTABAL WEIR VIEWS

THE CHHATTABAL WEIR  IN SRINAGAR 

Weir is an English word which literally means a dam across a river to raise the level of water upstream or to regulate the flow of the stream. It also means an enclosure of stakes set in a stream to trap fish.

It was in 2009 that the government decided to restore the year-round water level in the  Jhelum River by renovating the existing old weir near Chattabal. The weir had lost its use and was badly damaged. The  Deodar logs at many places had turned useless over time.

In 2009, I spent almost a full day at the weir and talked to some officials present at the site. I clicked some photographs of the weir and the connected spill channel.

“ Very soon, you shall see a new weir with a modern structure. It shall restore the age-old glory of the  Jhelum River. We intend to maintain and raise the present water level by 10 feet, and the river shall be fit for navigation round the year. The new weir has been designed by our own engineers, and we shall no longer be using Deodar wood but  43 steel trusses across the entire width of the river, which is around 150 meters,” said an official present on the spot.

Not many among us remember that the weir at Chattabal had its golden period. There used to be a Guest House near the weir, and Jawaharlal Nehru had also stayed in that picturesque  Guest House. Even top Russian leaders were entertained with a cup of tea at this Picturesque spot in November  1955  when they visited Kashmir.

Designed by British engineers, the Chattabal weir was constructed during the rule of Maharaja Partap Singh in 1906. The primary aim at that time was to make the Jhelum River fit for navigation by maintaining water level around the year, and also save damage to many wooden bases of houseboats and Doongas parked on Ghaats as the River bed turned dry at many places due to low water level. It was also meant to trap fish around the year in the Jhelum River.

The construction of the Weir at Chhattabal was started in 1906 by its contractor, Mr. Avery. The cost of the contract was ₹116700. Its length is 453ft. The weir was inaugurated by Maharaja Partap Singh in 1916. The Lock Gate of the Weir was capable of passing boats 20ft wide & 150ft long. The weir, when fully closed, used to raise the water level by 7 ft higher the minimum water level of  Vitasta. The weir was also built to maintain a sufficient depth of water in tributary canals of the Vitasta River, like Tsunti Kol, Mar Kol, Kutta Kol, Soner Kol, to facilitate water transport in the city.

Associated with our painful and also  Grand past, the River Vitasta has been a witness to the rule of  many Kings and emperors. It has been privy to many calamities and moments of happiness. Inspite of moments of Joy and misfortune, it has kept its pace and never stopped yearning for a peaceful future.  It has been privy to the march of civilisations that have flourished and vanished. Crowds have walked past its banks for centuries.

Is it a Highway of our existence?

  

Whenever I see Vitasta, I am reminded of a poem, 'Shah-Raah e Hayaat' by Ali Sardar Jafri or 'The Highway of Existence'. I add some lines from this great Poem……

Yeh aadmi ki guzar gaah shah-raah e hayaat

Hazaaron saal ka baar e garaan uthaaye huye

Guzarte waqt ke gardo – gubaar ke neeche

Haseen jism ki taabandagi chhupaaye huye

Guzashtaa daur ki tehzeeb ke manaazil ko

Jawaan maa ki tarah ghod me sulaaye huye

Idhar se guzrein hain changez o naadir o taimur

Lahoo me bheegi huyee mashaalein jalaaye huye

Safeid qaum ke ayaar taajiron ke giroh

Farebo makr se apni dukaan sajaaye huye

Yeh aadmi ki guzar-gaah shaah-raah e hayaat

The old weir served Kashmiris for about 100 years. Will the renovation serve the purpose? 

( Avtar Mota  )