Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Govt yet to formulate implementation plan

TNN Bureau. Updated: 7/19/2019 12:32:03 PM Jammu and Kashmir

JAMMU: The state government is yet to formulate implementation plan for Centre government’s water conservation campaign-- Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA), which aims to provide drinking water to every household of state on priority and in a sustainable manner.

The state government’s machinery has just begun the exercise to workout modalities for executing JSA while other neighboring states like has started its implementation.

On July 1, the Union Jal Shakti Ministry had launched Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) across the country. The Jal Shakti Abhiyan is a collaborative effort of various Ministries of the Government of India and State Governments, being coordinated by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation (DDWS). The campaign will run through citizen participation during the monsoon season, from 1st July, 2019 to 15th September, 2019. An additional Phase 2 will be run from 1st October, 2019 to 30th November, 2019 for States receiving the North East retreating monsoons.

In this regard, the state government on July 3 had nominated Administrative Secretary, Public Health Engineering, Irrigation & Flood Control Department as Nodal Officer to co-ordinate collaborative efforts in launching of 'Jal Shakti Abhiyan' (JSA) in the State of Jammu & Kashmir.

“The nodal officer has conducted meetings and asked official to work out its modalities for implementation. However the plan is under process,” an official source said.

“The directions have been passed to Superintendent Engineers (SEs) of districts to made comprehensive plan to provide tap water to the very house hold under JSA,” PHE Chief Engineer Sanjeev Kumar Chadha told The News Now.

“Superintendent Engineers have been asked to prepare plan accordingly so the existing schemes will not be affected. If the substantial improvement in ongoing schemes then they will be upgraded as per the requirements,” he said.

“The new initiative will also be taken under central government campaign, to provide tap water to every house hold,” he added.

“Under the plan the tube wells, distribution system and source of water will also upgraded if required,” he said.

The teams of officers from the central government will visit in the state and work with district administration to ensure five important water conservation interventions.

These will be water conservation and rainwater harvesting, renovation of traditional and other water bodies/tanks, reuse, bore well recharge structures, watershed development and intensive afforestation.

These water conservation efforts will also be supplemented with special interventions including the development of Block and District Water Conservation Plans, promotion of efficient water use for irrigation and better choice of crops through Krishi Vigyan Kendras.

A large-scale communications campaign has also been planned alongside the JSA involving mass mobilisation of different groups including school students, college students, swachhagrahis, Self Help Groups, Panchayati Raj Institution members, youth groups, defence personnel, ex-servicemen and pensioners.


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