Minister of State for PHE, I&FC Mir Zahoor Ahmad today informed the House that the vital Rs 1.44 cr Water Supply Scheme Amshipora, being developed to overcome the shortage of potable water in kandi belt of Shopian, is likely to be completed in 2019-20.He said that presently there is shortage of drinking water in the Kandi belt of Keller Block and upper reaches of Block Shopian due to prevailing dry spell. Besides, the areas like Devpora, Amshipora have low service level and intermittent supply due to source depletion.The Minister was replying to a Calling Attention Notice by Zaffar Iqbal Manhas in which he drew the attention of the government towards ‘ the situation that has arisen due to shortage of drinking water in entire Kandi belt of Block Keller in district Shopian and upper reaches of Shopian Block with special reference to Dev Pora, Dachana, Chak Sed Pora, Amshi Pora, Reshnagri and Sedow’. The Minister said that to augment the water supply to Amshipora, a new WSS Amshipora-Shamshipora is under execution under NRDW and the village Amshipora will get adequate water supply after completion of the scheme which is likely to be completed in the year 2019-20, subject to availability of funds.
He said that with regard to village Devpora and Shadab Karewa, the same is being fed through WSS Gattipora- Dachnoo which is a closed scheme. The Minister said that to redress the grievances of water shortage in Shahdab Kareewa and Devpora area, the department has formulated a detailed project report costing Rs.14.00 crore, for which source of funding is being identified.He said the villages such as upper Saidpora, Reshnagri, Sedow and Dachinoo are getting adequate water supply at present, while as the village Kathowhallan is being fed through WSS Naidkhore Katho whallan from SR ( Service Reservoir) at Kathowhallan, with spring as source, after proper chlorination.The Minister said that old existing pipe network feeding villages Gatipora, Nasserpora and Zraken has already outlived its design period with the result pipe lines have got deteriorated at some places. He said to overcome the problem, the Department has already taken up new schemes WSS Mujpathri, WSS Nasserpora & WSS Zarken under NRDWP which, after completion, will improve the Service level to these villages.
He said presently, the drinking water is being supplied to the above villages through piped system with proper chlorination and every precaution is being taken to ensure that no contaminants enter the system.Giving details of the Physical and financial status of ongoing schemes in question, the Minister said that WSS Amshipora-Shamshipora has been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 1.44 crore of which 54.78 lakh stands expended, WSS Mujpathri has been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 3.27 crore of which Rs 92.70 lakh stands incurred, WSS Zarkan has been taken up at a cost of Rs 3.34 crore of which Rs 59.69 lakh has been expended and WSS Nasserpora has been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 286.00 lacs of which Rs 60.84 lacs have been expended.