Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Information kick-started the construction work on Ans Irrigation Canal here today at Hubi. This project would be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 85.57 crore which once completed will irrigate 5000 acres of land.On the occasion, the Minister was briefed by the officers of I&FC department about the components of the project. It was informed that the project is comprised of Water Conductor and 4 Water Distributaries and the total length of Water Conductor will be 8.3 km comprising of 6.9 km Main Canal and 1.3 km tunnel whereas four distributaries will be of 43.30 km length.6300 families of the villages including Dhar Sakri, Peeri, Kot Dhara, Gakhrote, Sankari, Bindi, Tarkasi, Mera Nagrota, Ladote, Kalal Kass, Dangri, Lanka Ban, Saranoo and Baljaralan would be benefitted after the completion of this project.The Minister, while asserting the importance of project directed the concerned to expedite the work and complete the 6.9 km Main Canal within 30 months. Executive Engineer I&FC was instructed to ensure timely submission of the Detailed Project Report for 4 Distributaries for funding under NABARD.Zulfkar expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for sanctioning the grant of Rs 44 crore for initiating the work on project.
While counting the innumerable benefits that the project will unfold, the Minister said the canal is likely to transform hundreds of canal of uncultivable land into fertile/productive resource. The canal will not only irrigate the lands but enhance the productivity and prosperity of the entire area besides entailing employment benefits for the youth of the region, he said.Retrieving commitments of the present Government towards holistic and equitable development, the Minister informed the gathering of the wide range of projects that are either being implemented or are in the pipeline for the overall development of the area.Zulfkar said that projects worth Rs 800 crores are under implementation in Darhal Constituency including Medical College, several road projects like Rajouri-Koteranka, Rajouri-Darhal, Koteranka-Khawas and Koteranka-Budhal roads, play fields, indoor stadium, 100 school buildings etc.The Minster also expressed that health and education sectors are the priority sector of present dispensation and no stone will be left unturned for enhancing their efficacy and reach.
He also directed the concerned CEO to move a proposal for de-clubbing of earlier clubbed schools as per the requirements and demand of present times.He further instructed the officers present to make every effort for improving the public service delivery system and reach out to people at the grass roots. The minster also directed the district administration to review the developmental work under SAGY in Hubi and Targain, villages adopted for Model Village.Earlier, the Minister visited Eco-Tourism Park at Patli Qila and reviewed the progress of ongoing developmental works. He took serious note of unexplained delay in the completion of Ans Rapid Sand filtration plant at Patli Qila and given one month deadline to the concerned for completion of the project of public importance.The Minister was accompanied by DDC Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control Jammu P N Bali, SE Rafiq Khan, XeN PHE Nisar Khan, CEO Lal Husain and other district officers.