Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Choudhary conducted an extensive tour of district, Reasi yesterday and inspected Water Supply Schemes (WSS) Dhansar and Bhabbar Brahmana, Irrigation Scheme Lower Pai, flood protection works at Banganga and other areas in Reasi, Pouni and Arnas.During his visit to WSS Dhansar having a capacity of 1 lakh GPH, the Minister directed the officers to maintain cleanliness in and around the area, so that clean drinking water can be supplied to holy town of Katra and its adjoining areas.The people of Karua Kotli raised the issue of non-availability of water in their village due to delay in laying of water pipes.The Minister directed the concerned officers to expedite the process of laying the water pipes and restore water supply to the village as soon as possible.During the inspection of Irrigation Scheme Lower Pai, being executed under NABARD, the Minister directed the engineers of Irrigation & Flood Control department to channelize the flow of canals, besides taking up necessary protection works along river Chenab. The Minister, later, convened a meeting and reviewed the pace of various ongoing works of the department in the district.
Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Information Technology, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ajay Nanda, Deputy Commissioner, Reasi Ravinder Kumar, SP Reasi Sujit Kumar, Chief Engineer, PHE Susheel Aima, Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control Rajeev Gandotra, prominent citizens and officers of the concerned departments were also present in the meeting.The Minister was informed that out of 10 Irrigation schemes taken up by the department for execution, two have been completed and work on remaining schemes is in full swing. The Minister directed the officers to ensure that Water Supply Schemes at Salal, Rolkian and Marhi Pouni are made operational within two months. He warned of strict action against the erring officers if they fail to implement schemes in stipulated time frame.The Minister instructed for early completion of WSS Maslote, Hundar, Pouni besides the filtration plant at Reasi for providing potable water to the people of Reasi and its adjoining areas.He further directed them to maintain cleanliness in Payi and Gajod canals, besides carrying out plantation drive along the canals.The Minister exhorted upon the Executive Engineers, AEEs and JEs to conduct regular visits in their respective PHE installations and concerned habitations for streamlining water supply to the people.