Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Mar 14: It may sound incredible but is a fact that almost all Legislators including the Irrigation, Flood Control and PHE Minister, Sham Lal Sharma did not know about the Central sponsored CCDU scheme till taking over the reigns of the new Ministry.
Admitting this in State Assembly while replying to the annual grants of his Ministry during the second sitting, here today, Sham Lal said Communication and Capacity Development Unit (CCDU) scheme launched by Central Government in 2004 has not been implemented in the State till date.
He said though as MLA he went through every Central scheme but he had no knowledge of the same till he took over as I&FC and PHE Minister.
Sharing the member’s concern over the issue who demanded constitution of a House Committee to probe, the Minister said he has already announced a Committee headed by Chief Engineer Irrigation Jammu.
He said if the report of the Committee was given during the present session, it will be tabled in the House.
Earlier Congress MLA M S Niaz raised the issue saying that he came to know that there is a Central scheme under the name Communication & Capacity Development Unit (CCDU) under which Rs 12 crore were released by Centre some years back.
He said but the scheme has not seen the light of the day as neither members nor any one knows about the scheme.
Later talking to Excelsior Naiz said under the scheme the public awareness was to be made about the water how to preserve and use it. But neither the public nor MLAs know about the scheme.
It may be recalled that Excelsior had published a story in February 14 Edition regarding Rs 12 crore CCDU scam.
The Minister said water supply scheme for Greater Jammu was framed in 1985 but for certain reasons it could not materialize at that time. But now the scheme is through and ERA is working on it. The total cost of the scheme is Rs 1600 crore and it will be completed in two phases.
He said under the first phase Rs 771 crore will be spent.
He said a reservoir will be constructed at Muthi and for areas across river Tawi pressure tank will be constructed at Gandhi Nagar near Green Belt Park.
Sham Lal said for water supply of small towns schemes for LIC funding have been framed and the plan for the same has been submitted for approval.
He said main thrust will be give to save soil from erosion.
He said the desilting of Ranbir Canal is almost complete and sought five more days by which the water will be released in the canal. But the members not only agreed the same but also granted time upto March 25 for releasing the water.
The Minister said that he had no ill motive in confronting Engineer Rashid in the House when he raised issue of Guru saying already a lot of wedge has been created among the people in the State and he does not want that the barriers should be built among people. “I wanted that the distances should shortened as we are all colleagues and who so ever dies whether a Hindu or a Muslim is a human being and I have no personnel enmity with any body.” The CRPF personnel are also human beings, he added.
He assured the MLA that he will visit his Constituency Langate to settle the issues raised by him on spot.
The Minister also announced constitution of Quality Control Committee and Procurement Committee to make the system transparent. He further announced setting up of control rooms.
The Minister said there are 14,028 habitations in the State out of which 8878 have been fully covered and 5150 habitations are partially covered.
He said during next financial year 1407 new habitations benefiting over 11 lakh people will be covered with potable drinking water facilities. The Government has also proposed to install 3350 Mark -II hand pumps in the vulnerable locations to meet the drinking water requirements.
He said for upgradation of existing PHE infrastructure Rs 315.69 crore have been spent under NRDWP during this fiscal while the Government has submitted a detailed plan of Rs 561 crore to the Central Government for funding under this programme the next financial year.
He said to ensure quality water to the people 46 water testing laboratories have been set up and Government has undertaken 10 major Medium Irrigation Projects in the State under AIBP at an estimated cost of Rs 685.02 crore.
He said District Water & Sanitation Missions (DWSM) will be constituted in all the district of the State besides Village Level Water & Sanitation Committees (VWSC) will be constituted in convergence with NHRM throughout the State, he added.
He said regularization of daily wagers is under consideration of the Government.
Later House passed a sum of Rs 1695.84 crore to be granted to defray the charges which will come in the course of payment during the year ending March 31, 2014.
Earlier NC MLA staged a walkout from the House in protest against non granting of permission by the Deputy Speaker for speaking on grants for more time.
He was followed by senior leader and MLA Jammu West Prof Chaman Lal Gupta who through his cut motion wanted an assurance that people will get two times drinking water daily for one hour each.
However, in response to the same Minister said that earlier the people were getting water twice or thrice a week and when he promised to provide daily water let you give some more time for assuring twice water supply.
But Prof Gupta insisted on his demand which resulted into a verbal duel with Minister who urged him to press his cut motion as it was his usual habit.
The MLA however, staged a walkout in protest.
Earlier participating in the Harshdev Singh of NPP alleged that the Government has not been able to preserve and conserve the water reserves which are important.
He said as per the 1979 Ravi Tawi treaty after the construction of Ranjit Sagar Dam by Punjab 1200 cusecs of water and 20 percent power was to be given to the State but later they backed out from that treaty due to which the irrigation projects of the state became defunct and State is yearly losing Rs 5000 crore.
He said till date this treaty was not revived. Besides Punjab was also beneficiary of the Indus Water Treaty as it got control over its three major rivers while the rivers of J&K were given to Pakistan, he added.
He said many times the demand was raised in Assembly that State should be given due share from Punjab but nothing was done till date.
NC’s Dr Mustafa Kamaal said attention be provided for safe drinking water as changing weather will have a direct impact on drinking water.
He said due to violation of the agreement by Punjab the 100 kilometre area in the state could not get proper irrigation facilities which it would have got from Ravi canal. He stressed that attention be paid to small channels.
G M Saroori of Congress said had real decision been taken about the Indus Water treaty the situation could have been different in the State. He said the State should take full advantage of water resources.
Bharat Bushan demanded Ranjan Lift Irrigation canal be made properly functional while Ashwani Sharma demanded silt clearance be done in time in irrigation canals and the farmers be given concession on Water Tax.
Balwant Singh Mankotia stressed on fixing of targets for completion of schemes and regularization of ITI daily wagers.
Others who participated in the debate included Engineer Rashid, Charanjit Singh, Krishan Chander Bhagat, Ashok Kumar, Irfan Shah, Aijaz Jan, Abdul Gani Malik and Indu Pawar.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
