Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control Sham Lal Choudhary today inspected flood protection works along river Tawi in Barjala, Khandwal, Lalyal and other villages.During the visit, the Minister directed the concerned officers to complete flood protection works well in time, besides repairing damaged revetments and constructing new ones to check loss of human life, livestock, agricultural land and property near the river.He also inspected Water Supply Scheme, Barjala and asked the officers to explore the possibility of supply of water from the tube well to city areas. He further directed them to maintain cleanliness in and around the PHE establishment for supplying clean drinking water to the people.During inspection of Lift Irrigation Scheme, Lalyal, the Minister asked the officers to complete the requisite formalities for early operationalization of the scheme, so that farmers can take optimum benefit of the public utility.The Minster also conducted surprise inspections at PHE Sub-Divisions, Bari Brahmana and Bishnah.After noticing unauthorized absence of an Assistant Executive Engineer and some junior Engineers from the duty at PHE Sub-Division, Bari Brahmana, the Minister directed the Chief Engineer, PHE to initiate disciplinary action against the erring officers.
During inspection at PHE Sub-Division, Bishnah, the Minister thoroughly checked attendance registers and tour diaries of the officers, besides taking stock of the water samples tested at Water Testing Laboratory. He directed the officers to replace all conventional bulbs and tube lights with LEDs so that electricity can be saved.He further instructed them to regularly conduct field visits for checking water supply position and inform him about the new steps being taken by them for augmenting water supply in their respective areas.On the occasion, the Minister directed that Assistant Executive Engineers (AEEs) should sit in their respective sub-division offices while Junior Engineers (JEs) should remain present in their section headquarters. The Executive Engineers should have constituency wise detail of concerned Water Supply Schemes readily available with them, he added. Chief Engineer, I&FC Rajeev Gandotra and other officers of the department also accompanied the Minister during the visit.Earlier in the day, the Minister also kick started de-silting works on Distributary D-9 which is considered as the lifeline of canal irrigation system in Bishnah. The work is being executed on a length of 120 m at the cost of Rs. 11.23 lakh.