E-Paper
Rs 11-cr amphibious bus at Punjab’s Harike halted two days after launch: Less water to blame
“The activity will have to halt for 15-20 days as the water level in the reservoir is very low for running the operation of bus,” Punjab tourism director Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa said here. “At present, the water level in the reservoir has receded and is only 3.5 feet deep. The reason is that the main gates of Rajasthan feeder canal and Ferozepur feeder canal have been raised for repairs, whereby the water from the reservoir is flowing downstream.”
Launched with much fanfare just two days ago, the Rs 11-crore ambitious amphibious bus project of the Punjab government at the Harike wetland near Amritsar has been halted due to low water level, a senior officer said on Wednesday. The Harike Cruise was launched by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday.
“The activity will have to halt for 15-20 days as the water level in the reservoir is very low for running the operation of bus,” Punjab tourism director Navjot Pal Singh Randhawa said here. “At present, the water level in the reservoir has receded and is only 3.5 feet deep. The reason is that the main gates of Rajasthan feeder canal and Ferozepur feeder canal have been raised for repairs, whereby the water from the reservoir is flowing downstream.”
“The minimum water level required for the operations of the amphibious Bus is 6 feet. As per the officials of irrigation department, the repairs of these gates would be completed in the next 15-20 days,” he said.
The bus has a 4-km ride in water and on land.
