Chief Secretary, B R Sharma, Tuesday reviewed the progress of works being executed by Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Kashmir, for the project ‘Priority works - Comprehensive Flood Management Plan Phase – I’, in a meeting, he chaired here.Financial Commissioner, Department of Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconstruction, B B Vyas, Secretary, PHE and I&FC, Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar, Budgam and Bandipora, Chief Engineers and other senior officers were also present.While instructing the concerned Engineers to expedite the pace of work on the project, the Chief Secretary urged the concerned Deputy Commissioners of Srinagar, Budgam and Bandipora to act as Nodal Officers in resolving the land compensation issues for acquiring the land for Flood Spill Channel at Shariefabad and Naidkhai. “Take up the work in mission mode and complete the task well within the schedule fixed by the Union Ministry of Water Resources” Chief Secretary told DCs adding that concerned Engineers should speed up the pace of excavation works being executed in Flood Spill Channel.Managing Director, JKPCC was directed to start the work on the two Bridges proposed at Sharieafabad in District Budgam and Naidkhai in District Bandipora, which will remove the existing bottlenecks, besides serving as additional facility for local residents.
Chief Secretary also issued directions to expedite the early completion of dredging work especially in the Srinagar and Baramulla reaches and directed the Engineers and the representatives of the contractor M/s Reach Dreading Ltd to expedite the dredging process and to meet the targets set for December- 2017.A catch-up plan prepared by Chief Engineer, I&FC Kashmir, incorporating interalia additional machinery and manpower in various stretches and regular review by Secretary, PHE and I&FC Department was also discussed in the meeting.A revised schedule for expediting the completion of major components like land acquisition, dredging, earth cutting in Flood Spill Channel & construction of bridges was also proposed. The Irrigation and Flood Control Department was directed to monitor the progress of the project on weekly basis. Later, Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner also inspected the works being executed on River Jhelum at Sopore (Seer) and Srinagar (Panzinar, Kreshibal). On spot directions were issued to the concerned contractor to expedite the disposal of dredging material, clear the dykes and maintain smooth progress of dredging.Several delegations of locals of Seer Village also met the Chief Secretary and put forth various demands for consideration including treatment of slopes of River Jhelum. Chief Secretary gave them a patient hearing and instructed the Chief Engineer, I&FC Department to address the issues raised by the locals.