Minister for Education, Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today convened a meeting to review the progress of dredging work on river Jhelum.Legislators, Noor Mohammad Sheikh and Yasir Reshi, besides DC Srinagar, Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah were also present in the meeting.On the occasion, Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC) Engineers informed the meeting that in Srinagar 4.44 lakh cubic meters out of 7 lakh cubic meters, in Baramulla 4.46 lakh cubic meters against 9.16 lakh cubic meters and in Shariefabad 4.74 lakh out of 8 lakh cubic meters were dredged and rest of dredging work of the river will be completed soon.The Minister directed I&FC department to expedite the dredging of river Jhelum and its flood spill channels on priority so that carrying capacity of the river increases.He asked DC Srinagar to provide suitable land compensation to the affected landowners of Shariefabad immediately and start the dredging work on flood spill channel which passes through the area.
He also directed engineers of I&FC to remove all illegal slums from Dhood Ganga immediately and start the dredging work there immediately. It was said that the affected families will be rehabilitated at other suitable places.The Minister also directed the I&FC Engineers to prepare a proposal for the procurement of Geobags, which can be used during the emergency on river Jhelum and its tributaries.Bukhari also reviewed the process of auctioning and tendering of earth lifting from the banks of river Jhelum.Later, the Minister also reviewed the drinking water supply position in the city and asked the PHE Engineers to provide uninterrupted water supply to the City inhabitants.He also directed I&FC and PHE Engineers to prepare a Detailed Project Report so that these vital Departments would be equipped with latest and modern machinery.Engineers of I&FC, PHE and other concerned officers also attended the meeting.