Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 25: Minister for Housing, Raman Bhalla and Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma today visited the Bahu Fort to assess the damage caused by the recent heavy rains.
They asked the concerned department to formulate a comprehensive plan for the restoration of this important heritage place on priority basis. They said that Rs 22 lakh have been kept with Jammu Development Authority for immediate restoration work and other details are being assessed by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Mr Bhalla and Mr Sharma directed the JDA to ensure completion of damage restoration work as early as possible.
Earlier, Mr Bhalla visited the Chandmari area where embankment has been damaged due to rains. He said that Government has sanctioned Rs 40 lakh to reconstruct the protection wall along the left side embankment of Nikki Tawi at Chandmari, Raipur and Satwari damaged due to flash floods recently.
He directed the Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) to immediately start the construction work of protection wall to protect the soil erosion of the edge area, adding that Government funds have been provided under State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).
The Minister inquired about the prevailing situation at different locations at Chandmari, Barazalla and Raipur Satwari and assured all required help from the administration. He directed revenue officers to assess the loss and prepare cases for compensation under SDRF to the flood affected families.
Regarding de-silting of Landoi Choi nallah, the Minister informed that directions have been issued to Jammu Municipal Corporation for regular sanitation of colonies nallahs so that the residents do not face any inconvenience during rainy season.
Minister for the PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma also visited the site of breach of Tawi canal at Balole nallah near Purmandal Morh to inspect the pace of progress on the restoration work of this important canal being done by the Ravi Tawi Irrigation Department.
He was accompanied by Commissioner Secretary, PHE, I&FC, Dr Pawan Kotwal, District Development Commissioner, Jammu, Ajeet Kumar Sahu, Chief Engineer, I&FC, Varinder Badyal, Chief Engineer, Ravi Tawi Irrigation, J C Jerth, SE Hydraulic Jammu, Rajeev Malhotra, SEs, PHE, I&FC, Jammu and Samba and senior engineers and officers accompanied the Minister.
Mr Sham expressed concern over the unchecked extraction along the nallah bed and instructed the concerned departments to work in close coordination and cooperate with the task force to protect water bodies as per the guideline and norms.
He asked the DDC Jammu to submit a report regarding the encroachments along Balole nallah and take immediate action to remove the same along Tawi canal and its distributaries. He also asked district administration Jammu and Samba to take stern action against the encroachers and ensure irrigation canals are cleared for providing irrigation facilities to the farmers at the tail end.
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