Ensuring adequate drinking, irrigation water Govt’s priority: Sham Choudhary

Reviews water supply scenario in Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban

BHADARWAH, APRIL 24: Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Choudhary today said the resolve of the State Government is to provide clean drinking water to every village, sufficient water for irrigation to every field and conservation of every drop of water.
The Minister said this while addressing the meeting convened to review the water supply position, irrigation facilities and flood protection works being executed by the department in various districts including Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban at Tilligarh in Bhadarwah.
MLA Doda Shakti Raj Parihar, MLA Bhadarwah Daleep Singh Parihar, MLA Khour Krishan Lal Bhagat, Chief Engineer, PHE Susheel Aima, Chief Engineer, I&FC Rajeev Gandotra, Executive Engineers, Superintending Engineers and other senior officers of the department were present in the meeting.
The Minister was informed that 6 Water Supply Schemes (WSSs) had been taken up in Doda and all schemes stand completed while as 8 WSSs were taken up in Kishtwar, out of which 4 have been completed and work on rest schemes is going on. In Ramban, 7 WSSs were taken up and all schemes have been completed.
The Minister was further informed that 26 schemes for irrigation were taken up in Doda, out of which 19 have been completed and work on 7 schemes is going on in full-swing. In Kishtwar, 20 schemes have been taken up, out of which 18 stands completed and work on 2 schemes is going on while as in Ramban, 17 schemes were taken up, out of which 7 have been completed and work on 10 schemes is going on.
The Minister directed the officers to complete the leftover schemes within shortest possible span of time.
During the meeting, MLA Doda, Shakti Raj Parihar said that the works on Lift Irrigation Scheme in Jodhpur should be started soon while as work on sanctioned irrigation schemes under NABARD in Junglewad should also be expedited. The water distribution system should be improved in Doda, besides covering leftover habitations under the piped distribution system, he added.
Meanwhile, MLA Bhadarwah Daleep Singh Parihar sought government’s intervention in further augmenting supply of this vital basic amenity to the people. He also urged for expediting pace of works on Water Supply Scheme, Jai.
In the meeting, the Minister directed the officers of the department to submit the reports of damages to the District administration as well as the concerned Chief Engineer within 24 hours of the incident so that the damages can be repaired and water supply can be restored for the people at the earliest.
He asked the officers to construct irrigation channels (khuls) properly so that the irrigation facilities can be improved in the respective districts. He further directed the Executive Engineers to visit each and every water supply scheme being executed under their jurisdiction to get first hand information of the extent of wok done in the ongoing schemes and condition of the already commissioned tube wells.
Later, the Minister inaugurated Rapid Sand Filtration plant having a capacity of 5,000 gallons per hour at Halyan. He directed the officers to supply only filtered water to the people and construct filtration plants, wherever necessary.
During his tour, the Minister also inaugurated Stage-2nd of water Supply Scheme, Chakrabathi constructed under NRDWP which would supply clean drinking water to various villages including Belru, Sindra, Kahila, Kuthyara and Chakrabathi.