As many as 221 languishing Water Supply Schemes have been sanctioned with an estimated cost of Rs 459 crores across the State under the special dispensation to be funded through Jammu and Kashmir Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (JKIDFC).The information was given at a meeting chaired by the Secretary, Public Health Engineering (PHE), Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC) and DMRRR, Farooq Ahmad Shah convened to discuss and finalize the action-plan for completion of languishing water supply schemes.The meeting was attended by the Chief Engineer, PHE, Abdul Wahid, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers, Officers of Finance and Planning Departments besides other senior officers of PHE Department.Threadbare discussion was held on languishing projects and other related schemes including Water Supply Schemes district wise.On the occasion, the Secretary PHE said that the Government had recently accorded sanction for the establishment of JK Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation (JKIDFC) for completion of unfunded and languishing infrastructure projects in the State which are the priority for the Governor’s administration.He directed the officers of the Department to prepare comprehensive plans in this regard and submitted the same to the concerned quarter for accord of necessary sanction.
He also asked officers to ensure that the projects are free from all encumbrances before it is considered for approval.Shah said that all the pending projects should be strictly completed within the stipulated time frame. He also asked them to complete the fixed targets well in time and also stressed for judicious use of funds. He said no further time or cost overrun shall be allowed under any circumstances on such projects.He also said that the instructions were already given for monitoring of all executions of works related to PHE Department by the third party.He emphasized upon all the officers and engineers of the PHE Department to work with added zeal and zest in order to ensure timely completion of all ongoing languishing projects and other works in a transparent manner.Earlier, Farooq Shah inspected beautification work on Jhelum embankments at Zero Bridge.The embankments got damaged and deshaped in 2014 devastating floods, and in flood-like situation in March 2015 and June, 2018 with the accumulation of heavy debris and overburdens.He was informed that beautification of embankments by way of reshaping of slopes and top has been taken under identified 23 works.He was informed that an amount of Rs 4.5 crore was earmarked for reshaping, correction of profile, upgradation of parks, construction of stone ditching, removal of blockades near LD and Gonikhan, construction of parapet walls, providing solar system illumination to bunds at leftover spots, plantation along embankments top, revival of Peerzo channel and other related works.Chief Engineer, PHE, Abdul Wahid and other officers accompanied the Secretary during the visit.