Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Choudhary today conducted an extensive tour of flood affected areas of Kathua district to take stock of damages caused due to recent incessant rains and flash floods in these areas.The Minister was accompanied by MLA Kathua Rajiv Jasrotia, ADC Kathua Dr Bharat Bhushan and officers of PHE, Irrigation, Flood Control department.During his visit to flood affected Chack Gadhadhar village, the Minister passed on spot directions for restoration of damages to public utilities and other infrastructure.The Minister asked the concerned departments to take up restoration works in all flood affected areas on war footing and ensure immediate restoration of roads and other services. He also directed I&FC department to repair the breaches and strengthen the flood protection bunds in all affected areas. completion of restoration works.He appealed locals to extend their cooperation to the government agencies in restoration works.The Minister also visited Ujh Barrage where a portion of land was washed away in flash floods. He informed the people that a comprehensive flood protection and restoration plan will be formulated to take up protection works at vulnerable spots to minimize the damage due to flash floods.
He directed the local administration to look after the needs of affected people and shift the affected families to safer shelters if need arises. He also inquired about the water level in river Ravi , Ujh and tehir distributaries. He directed the I&FC department to be in the State of full preparedness to meet any eventuality.During the tour, various deputations from affected villages also called on the Minister and apprised him of their problems and demands.Earlier the minister visited Lakahnpur Water Lift Station and inspected recently installed machinery for the capacity improvement of the lift stationThe capacity improvement involves 8 new pump sets, Liquid Rotar Starters, One 2.5 M.V.A AVR, and One 5 M.V.A AVR and new H.T panels which were installed at an estimated cost of 7 Crores.The Minister said that with the installation of new machinery the capacity of 200 quesec of lift station can be easily meet up which will help in catering the irrigation water needs of the farmer’s especially in hilly kandi areas adjoining Lakahnpur.Accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Kathua Ramesh Kumar, the Minister also visited Ravi Tawi Irrigation Complex Kathua and participated in the plantation drive held in the premises. He also convened meeting with officers and held detail review of the works undertaken by the RTIC Kathua.