Rohru (Himachal Pradesh), Oct 14 (IANS): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Wednesday launched the Pabbar river channelisation project that on completion will help save property worth Rs.662 crore, a statement said.

According to statement, the project, launched at Mandli village near here, will cost Rs.191 crore.

The river would be channelised from Tikkri to Hatkoti and 177.68 hectares land would be reclaimed, benefitting 2,000 households.

The channelisation on completion would save property worth Rs.662 crore which remains under threat from floods in the Pabbar river.

It would also provide protection to 19 water supply schemes in the area, six bridges and two hydropower projects which fall in the river's catchment.

The chief minister also urged the people to voluntarily donate land for road construction projects.

"One should voluntarily donate land for roads as it opens new vistas of development. The government would provide adequate compensation to them," he said.

No construction would be allowed on the river beds after channelisation on the land reclaimed, he added.

Irrigation and Public Health Minister Vidya Stokes said the government was committed to providing irrigational and drinking water facility to the left out habitations by 2016.

She said 40,458 of the 53,604 habitations have been provided drinking water facilities till March this year.