Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 21: Maintaining that demand of potable drinking water supply is increasing day by day; Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma said that the Government has formulated a Vision Document to meet the future needs of Jammu city.
Replying to the discussion on Demand of Grants of PHË, Irrigation & Flood Control Departments in the Legislative Assembly today, the Minister said the Vision Document envisages formulation of a project that will cater to the needs of potable water of a population of over 15 lakh upto 2016, and over 24 lakh upto 2031, under first phase of the Project. The second phase projected upto 2046 will cover population of over 36 lakh of Greater Jammu and adjoining localities included in the Master Plan of Jammu Development Authority. The first phase of the project is likely to cost Rs. 835 crore and the second phase, Rs. 531 crore with the source of the project being river Chenab, the Minister said.
With regard to meeting needs of Srinagar city, the Minister said that similar futuristic plan has already been implemented and two mega projects namely Water Supply Scheme Tangnar and Water Supply Scheme Sukhnag are under execution. These projects have been taken up under JNNURM at a cost of Rs. 269.37 crore. These schemes are aimed to meet the drinking water needs of over 6 lakh population of Greater Srinagar city and adjoining areas, said the Minister.
Listing the achievements during the current financial year, the Minister said that 560 new habitations have been provided safe drinking water facilities with a financial involvement of Rs. 286.60 crore under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP). Besides, 1888 rural schools have been provided the drinking water facilities across the State, said the Minister.
Under the NRDWP Rs. 500 crore have been proposed to be spent on the construction of new schemes during the next fiscal. To augment the water supply in six towns viz Samba, Udhampur, Kathua, Doda, Bhaderwah and Sunderbani, the Government will spend Rs. 116.43 crores under UIDSSMT. Two towns namely Sopore and Anantnag in Kashmir division at a cost of Rs. 70.42 crore have also been taken up. Similarly, 26 new schemes to augment the water scenario to other small and medium towns have been taken up at a cost of Rs. 108.09 crore in Jammu division under LIC loan assistance. Similarly, in Kashmir division, 19 new schemes for towns have been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs. 68.24 crore, said the Minister.
In order to ensure quality water to the people, the Department has set up 4 new water testing laboratories at the district and sub-divisional level. During the current fiscal, over 44,000 water tests have been conducted. Two Regional Level laboratories have also been approved by the Central Government at a cost of Rs. 13.50 crore, besides Mobile Laboratories will also be pressed into the service to cater to the remote areas, said the Minister.
To make the role of Panchayati Raj Instructions in the water management more vibrant during, the Department has constituted 4876 Village Water & Sanitation Committees with members of PRIs and officials from PHE, Health, Social Welfare and RDD Department. In the first instance, 14362 numbers of Mark-II Hand Pumps have been handed over to these Village Water & Sanitation Committees for maintenance through concerned Member Secretary (JE PHE). Till date, 3817 VWSCs have opened their Bank Accounts and funds to the tune of Rs. 148.00 lakh @ Rs. 5000/ per committee have been released to enable them to undertake minor day to day maintenance works of Hand pumps. This is also a step forward to empower the PRIs, said the Minister.
Under the Irrigation and Flood Control Sector, the ceiling under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) has been enhanced from `Rs. 421.00 crore to `Rs. 598.00 crore during the current financial year. As many as 125 new Minor Irrigation Schemes involving Rs. 732.52 crore, 119 in Kashmir province & 6 in Ladakh Region have been conceived and submitted to Central Government for funding under AIBP, said the Minister.
The Minister further said that a proposal for construction of 3 major canals viz. Lar Budgam, Grimtoo Kulgam and Zaingeer Baramulla at a cost of Rs. 46.68 crore, Rs. 99.09 crore and Rs. 73.51 crore respectively have been sent to the Centre for funding to bring more area under the irrigation potential. The project for Kathua Canal Phase-II with the involvement of Rs. 53.00 crore will also be sent to the Centre for funding. The project for Modernization of Sangloo Canal at a cost of Rs. 99.09 crores has been prepared and will be sent to the Centre for funding, said the Minister.
Under the J&K Water Resources Regulation & Management Act-2010 an amount of Rs. 569.86 crore has been realized during the year as water usage charges, informed Mr. Sham.
On the issue of regularization of Daily Wagers/ Contractuals/CP Workers, the Minister said that there is need to frame a clear cut policy to deal with this issue. He sought help of the House to develop a consensus to deal with this sensitive issue and to address the grievances of these workers.
As many as 21 Members participated in the discussion which included, Dr. Mustafa Kamaal, A. R Veeri, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Hakim Yaseen, M. Y. Tarigami, Krishan Chander Bhagat, Jugal Kishore, Harshdev Singh, Nasir Aslam Wani, Dr. Mohammad Shafi, Er. Abdul Rashid, Charanjit Singh, Javed Mustafa Mir, Ashwani Sharma, Ashok Kumar, Durga Dass, Irfan Shah, Javed Ahmed Dar, Peerzada Mansoor Hussain, Rafi Ahmed Mir, Bharat Bushan and Rachpal Singh.
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