Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control Sham Lal Choudhary today said agriculture sector is the backbone of JK’s economy and it is the Government’s responsibility to provide sufficient water for irrigation, for which various path-breaking initiatives are underway.The Minister was speaking at a function after launching construction work of 200m long supply channel for Lift Irrigation Scheme Pindi Sarochan-II in Suchetgarh.The Lift Irrigation Scheme project to be completed at the estimated cost of Rs 210.77 lakh under NABARD would provide water for irrigation to 101 hectares of land in Pindi Sarochan and its nearby villages.While addressing the gathering, the Minister called upon people to refrain from polluting canals, which becomes main cause of choking of water bodies and obstructs water from reaching the far end of the villages. The villagers should also come forward and plant trees along the canals, he added.Meanwhile, the villagers highlighted various demands related to upgradation of lanes & drains, replacement of electric cables, erection of new poles, installation of transformers, replacement of motors in Lift Irrigation Schemes and construction of boundary wall of cremation ground.After giving a patient hearing to their demands, the Minister said the government is committed to provide all basic amenities to the people of the state at their doorsteps and all their genuine demands would be redressed in a phased manner.The officers of PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control department were also present in the public meeting.