Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 18: Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma today reviewed the physical and financial achievements recorded by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Irrigation and Flood Control Departments at a high level meeting.
The Minister also reviewed the status of the ongoing Water Supply Schemes (WSS) taken up at Katra, Doda, Jammu, Udhampur and Rajouri under Special Task Force Projects.
The meeting was attended by Commissioner Secretary, PHE, I&FC, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Chief Engineer PHE, K.K. Gupta, Chief Engineer Irrigation and Plood Control, Chief Engineer RTIC, besides SCs/Executive Engineers of PHE, Irrigation & FC of Jammu province.
While reviewing the achievements, the Minister was also briefed about the steps taken for the revival and preservation of traditional ponds in the region, supply of drinking water to uncovered educational institutions, multi-villages schemes, revenue collection, process of installation of water meters at private establishments like hotels, restaurants and other business concerns, besides laying of crate work alongwith river Chenab and other areas etc.
The Minster said that access to safe drinking water was the right of every individual and the Government was committed to provide the same to every nook and corner of the state. He said that Government was committed for effective implementation of all development schemes and to ensure that the targeted lot gets the benefits. He called upon the engineers/officers to work with dedication and missionary spirit to serve the people.
He stressed the Chief Engineers to personally monitor implementation of various ongoing schemes and activities of the field functionaries for smooth functioning of the system so that the people do not face difficulties during the summer. He asked them to take feedback from Sarpanchs and Panchs of the respective areas.
The meeting was informed that the flood protection work on Katra-Dansar Nallah has been taken up at Rs 47 lakh, out of which Rs 25 lakh have been spent so far.
It was also informed that the Rs 5.49 crore have been spent on the Surinsar Water Supply Scheme against the total project cost of Rs 7.23 crore, while against Rs. 384.41 lakh project cost Rs 2.40 crore have been spent on WSS Mansar Lake.
It was said that the upcoming WWS at the two famous tourist destinations of the Jammu would reduce dependence of water requirements on the lakes in the area.
It was also informed that Rs 2.30 crore have been spent on WSS Naiwala-Kishtwar against the project cost of Rs 5.31 crore, while the Filtration Plant at Rajouri district is coming up at a cost of Rs. 30 lakh.
The Minister was also informed that under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) the department has proposed Rs 272.92 crore Action Plan for the year 2013-14, with a target to cover 395 inhabitants with 314648 population.
While reviewing the irrigation schemes, the Minister was apprised that this year Rs 18.88 crore have been proposed for the restoration and modernization of main Ravi canal and its distribution network, while the department was also working on the Lift Irrigation Scheme Raya, estimated to cost Rs. 110 lakh.
Later, the Minister, alongwith Commissioner Secretary PHE, and other concerned senior officers visited the construction site of Tawi Barrage Project.
About ninety percent work on the Rs. 69.80 crore project also known as Tawi Artificial Lake has been completed.
The Minister directed the executing agencies to complete the work before coming rainy season.
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