Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 23: In order to extend drinking water facility to uncovered areas across the Valley, the PHE Department commissioned 25 new Water Supply Schemes (WSS) during the current fiscal (ending September, 2013) at a cost of Rs. 52.08 crore.
Besides, 747 major and minor WSSs are under execution at an estimated cost of Rs. 1424 crore in the Valley, which are at different stages of completion. The majority of areas of Kashmir Valley will be covered with the safe drinking water on their completion. Besides, as many as 508 schools have been provided the drinking water facility by the department during the current financial year.
As a part of implementation of reformative measures, the Department has also installed as many as 627 water meters in commercial establishments across the Valley. The process of installation of water meters in the commercial as well in domestic establishments has been expedited to achieve the targets.
This information was given to the Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma at a review meeting, held here today.
Commissioner/Secretary, PHE, Irrigation & FC, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Chief Engineer, PHE, A.M. Lanker, Chief Engineer, Irrigation & FC, Mir Javed Jaffer, SEs, XEns from Kashmir Valley were present in the meeting.
Expressing satisfaction over the performance of the department, the Minister stressed the need for speeding up the pace of works to complete the on-going schemes within the stipulated time frame. He emphasized the need for maintaining quality of works strictly as per the specification and judicious use of funds. He directed the Chief Engineers and SEs to personally monitor the execution of works so that targets are achieved in time.
In view of continuous depletion of water resources, the Minister directed the engineers to take necessary measures for maintaining sustainability of existing sources. He stressed for developing check dams in all areas to improve the water table in all areas. He also called for formulation of comprehensive programme for upgradation of existing schemes to enhance their efficacy.
Stressing the need for covering hundred percent metering in commercial as well as domestic establishments, the Minister said that all the concerned engineers will be made accountable under whose jurisdiction the performance will be poor. He said installation of water meters is a part of reforms envisaged by the Central Government in order to make the State self-reliant in generating its own resources to improve the drinking water scenario as also to improve the financial health of the State. He said in every State the consumers are paying for water usages, so the people of State have also to develop a habit to pay for this essential commodity.
Dr. Kotwal gave resume of the activities of the Department and steps initiated to improve the drinking water scenario in the Kashmir Valley.
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