Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Choudhary today directed the officers of PHE department to conduct testing of water samples on regular basis to provide safe drinking water to the people.The Minister was chairing a meeting of senior officers of the department of Jammu Division.Chief Engineer PHE Jammu Susheel Aima informed the Minister about the working of water testing labs established in Jammu Province and also informed that the department has conducted around 8,000 tests this year.Stressing on conducting the tests more frequently, the Minister asked the officers to make it a regular exercise to keep check on the quality of drinking water being supplied to the people. He also asked Superintending Engineers to keep close check on this activity and ensure samples are taken from all functional water schemes.The meeting was informed that the installation of equipments at the newly constructed building for Provincial Level Water Testing Lab in Jammu is in progress.The Minister directed the department to expedite the process to make the Lab functional at the earliest.The Minister asked the officers to organize special training camps for the staff of testing labs to acquaint them with latest techniques.
He also directed for having all necessary equipments in the labs for maximum accuracy of test of water samples. He said that Third Party inspections would also be conducted and if any sample failed to qualify the parameters of safe water, action would be taken against those involved in testing the samples.Reviewing other activities of the department, Sham Lal exhorted upon the officers to put in sincere efforts to streamline water supply to people particularly areas facing shortage.The meeting also reviewed the status of works taken up to protect traditional water sources and other sustainability structures in all the districts of Jammu Province. It was informed that around 112 works have been taken up by the department in the 10 districts of the province and some of them have already been completed or at the verge of completion. The Minister directed the officers to speed up the works and complete the same by the end of December 2016.During the meeting, physical and financial status of various schemes was also reviewed. The officers were asked to upload the expenditure data online and furnish utilization certificates.The Minister also discussed the process of repair works of Hand Pumps and was assured that all the non functional pumps will be repaired on priority.Among others, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and concerned officers were present in the meeting.