Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Sachin Kumar Vaishya, today, held a meeting to discuss the plan for identification, protection and restoration of water bodies which includes ponds and springs in the district under convergence mode.During the meeting threadbare discussions were held regarding the modalities for the identification, preservation and the development of the ponds and the springs.The DC directed the RDD to identify, protect and upgrade these water bodies under MGNREGA besides ensuring their sanitation.
The DC said that restoration of water bodies would go a long way in averting floods and ensuring availability of water for irrigation and drinking purposes.He directed the concerned officers of Jal Shakti, Watershed Management, Soil Conservation, Social Forestry, Revenue, Horticulture, Agriculture and RDD to initiate sustained anti encroachment drive for restoration of the original shape and size of water bodies.The meeting also discussed various preventive measures need to be taken for controlling and curbing the illegal extraction of minor minerals including sand and bajri from nallahs across the district.The DDC gave directions to police and other concerned departments to give full support to the Geology and Mining Department in controlling illegal extraction of minor minerals from nallah. It was also decided that the concerned tehsildars, Geology and Mining Department shall conduct a comprehensive drive in the field where illegal extraction is done during night hours.The department was also given authorization for road cut leading to nallahs and quarries to ensure cent percent control over illegal extraction of sand.DDC also stressed the need for involving BDCs in the process to ensure greater success.Among others, the meeting was attended by Chief Planning Officer, Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Executive Engineers of PDD, Jal Shakti, Assistant Commissioner Development, Divisional Forest Officer, all Tehsildars, Block Development Officers, District Panchayat Officer of the district.