Maintaining that providing uninterrupted potable water to people of State is the prime duty of the Government, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Mr. Sham Lal Choudhary today said that 477 Water Supply Schemes (WSS) at an estimated cost of Rs. 1188 crore have been taken up under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) in Kashmir Division.Chairing a review meeting here today, the Minister got first hand appraisal on pace of ongoing projects under PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control sectors district-wise and scheme-wise.The Minister directed the concerned for accelerating the pace of works ensuring their timely completion. He said that funds are not an issue in completion of projects, adding that 50 per cent allocated funds stand released so far. An amount of Rs. 32 crore additional funds have also been earmarked to complete the projects under PHE sector, he added. Mr. Sham Lal directed the concerned for submitting detailed report about pending cases with regard to regularization of Daily wagers and land compensation within 20 days in the office of their respective Chief Engineers so that effective measures could be taken for their early redressal. Cautioning the concerned against sending the regularization cases which do not come under regularization policy, the Minister said that strict action would be taken against the officials who will send wrong cases for regularization. He said that law officers or legal assistants would be deputed to pursue cases vigorously in Courts, besides enforcement wing would also be created in the department.The Minister said that out of 477 ongoing Water Supply Schemes under NRDWP in Kashmir Division, 98 schemes have been prioritized for completion by this fiscal. He said that an amount of Rs. 100 crore has been earmarked for the purpose, of which Rs. 49.25 crore stands released. He said Rs. 29 crore has been approved as matching state share under NRDWP.
The Minister said that Government has prioritize two Major and Medium Irrigation Schemes namely Light Irrigation Scheme Tral and Light Irrigation Scheme Rajpora under Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) for which funds to the tune of Rs. 51.86 crore have been approved under Capex Budget 206-17. Under Minor Irrigation schemes, Rs. 57 lakh stands released under regular schemes, he added.The meeting was informed that under Capex budget, against an outlay of Rs. 18 crore, an amount of Rs. 4.5 crore under regular schemes stands released. The meeting was informed that an amount of Rs. 17 crore under LIC loan assistance also stands released during the current fiscal.Reviewing the activities of Flood Control sector, the meeting was informed that four dredging machines have been engaged in River Jehlum and the work is expected to be completed by the end of this fiscal. Also under Flood Control Sector, against an outlay of Rs. 61.50 crore, Rs. 1.79 crore under regular schemes stands released and under Comprehensive Flood Management of River Jehlum Phase-I, Rs. 20.67 crore stand released, besides an amount of Rs. 8.63 as matching State Share, the meeting was informed.Among others, Chief Engineer, PHE, Kashmir, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Kashmir, representative from Planning and Finance Departments, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and other engineers of the departments from Kashmir Division attended the meeting.