Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Choudhary today convened a meeting of Public Health Engineering (PHE), Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Departments to review the progress of different schemes in Rajouri and Poonch .Minister asked the functionaries of twin districts to put in their best to maintain regular supply of water to everyone."Priority should be given to those schemes and projects which are held up and require less funding for completion so that people can avail their benefits and prompt public delivery system is maintained", he maintained .He asked the concerned to identify those areas where the outreach/scope of lift schemes are minimal and submit a report t the department so that other measures or resources in the shape of tube wells and hand pumps are provided to the people.Minister directed the officers to achieve the targets within stipulated time period and make full use of available resources so that drinking water is made available to the people.
During the meeting, the Legislators raised various issues pertaining to upgrading of infrastructure of PHEs and augmentation of water supply schemes and requested for liberal funding for ongoing schemes for both the districts.Minister also inspected water supply scheme at Chingus, Rajouri which was recently made fully functional and is currently benefitting 400 householdsEarlier, the Minister was apprised on the status of different ongoing schemes under district plan and central sponsored schemes of PHE, irrigation and flood control of twin districts.It was informed in the meeting that against the approved outlay of 359.12 lacs hundred percent expenditure has been made during the year 2016-17.It was further informed that 115 regular schemes are underway in Rajouri and five schemes have been completed against the target of covering five habitations. Whereas in Poonch five schemes have been completed and against the target of covering eight habitations hundred percent achievement has been registered during the previous financial year.Further it was also given out that Rajouri town is also being proposed under LIC loan Assistance during the current financial year.The meeting was attended by Vice Chairman of Pahari Advisory Board, Kuldip Raj Gupta, Vice Chairman for OBC, Yashpal Verma, MLA Rajouri,MLA Noshera , MLA Mendhar, MLC, Vibod Gupta.