Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Chowdhary and the Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs and Tribal Affairs today inaugurated the Water Supply Scheme Anns at Kandi Galla, Koteranka and Irrigation Inspection hut at Mandir Galla.Completed under NRDWP with a cost of INR 7.49 crore, the WSS is all set to provide clean drinking water to more than 42000 souls from a dozen of villages including Hubbi, Rehan, Swari, Tralla, Sanokte, Koteranka, Khah, Jamalo and Dhar Sankari.Addressing a mammoth gathering after inauguration of the scheme, Sham Choudhary reiterated the resolve of the government in providing clean drinking water to all the areas. He said after taking over, this government has taken painstaking efforts in completing all schemes including those which were pending and were at various stages of completion. He impressed upon the Executive Engineers to complete the distribution network to all the targeted villages so that the people get relief from drudgery of carrying water from long distances. He called upon the concerned to expedite work on all water supply schemes in the district for their completion within scheduled time so that these can be thrown open for Public use.Speaking on the occasion, Chowdhary Zulfkar said the WSS Anns is one among the slew of development projects initiated by present dispensation in this far flung part of the state.
He said the projects in like of Budhal-Shopian road, Patli Qila eco-park, Koteranka-Khawas and Rajouri-Koteranka roads, indoor stadium, G&B Hostel, Koteranka amusement park, Shakkarmarg tourism project and Anns Irrigation project marks the beginning of new developmental era in the region.Referring to Anns Irrigation project, the Minister said it will transform hundreds of Kanals of uncultivable land into fertile/productive resource. Increased productivity of the area will give upward swirl to the socio-economic status of the people, the minister added.The Ministers along with concerned officers inspected the work at portal 1 and portal 2 of 1.3 KM long tunnel which is part of 8.3 KM long water conductor of Anns Irrigation canal. It was informed that tunnel is excavated up to 70 Meter on P1 whereas on P2 side 17 Meter of it has been readied.The Ministers, while emphasising the importance of project which is bound to benefit thousands of souls, directed the concerned to execute the work on war footing so as to complete it within stipulated time.Pertinently, the work on Rs 85.57 crore irrigation project which targets to irrigate 5000 acres of land, was kick started by Chowdhary Zulfkar in the month of October last year.The Ministers were accompanied by District Development Commissioner, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Chief Engineer Irrigation and Flood Control K K Magotra, CE PHE Ashok Gangotra, SE Rafiq Khan, ExEn PHE Nisar Khan, ExEn I & FC Sunil Koul, Addl DC Koteranka Shafiq Ahmad, Adll SP Mohd Yousuf, AD FCS & CA Javaid Iqbal and other officers from district and sub-divisional administration.