District Development Commissioner Poonch, Inder Jeet today chaired a meeting to review the functioning of Jal Shakti (PHE) Department, here in the conference Hall of DC office complex.
At the outset, Superintending Engineer Hydraulic Circle, Er Rajinder K Sharma, gave a detailed report of all the works proposed under Jal Jeevan Mission and other ongoing works/schemes undertaken for providing safe drinking water to the public in the District.
The SE informed that out of 128 works approved under Jal Jeevan Mission aimed to provide Har Ghar Nal Se Jal, 69 schemes stand allotted and 41 are under the process of allotment.
“Rest 18 works are in tendering process and all the works are likely to be completed by ending June 2023,” he said and added out of 128 Borewells, 47 stand drilled and work on rest o is in progress.
The District Development Commissioner reviewed the overall water supply position in Poonch and Surankote towns besides all the water supply schemes falling in the Rural areas.
He directed the Executive Engineer PHE Division Poonch to share water supply positions of each PHE installation in the district on the whatsapp group of the District administration on a daily basis.
He further emphasized on enhancing water pumping to ensure regular supply. The Executive Engineer and the field Engineers of the department were asked to regularly visit the sites and ensure construction under JJM strictly as per the timeline fixed by the Govt. i.e ending June 2023.
The District Development Commissioner further directed all the Field Engineers /Junior Engineers of the PHE Department to hold public grievances camps in their respective sections every Wednesday as per the circular issued by the SE Hydraulic Circle and ensure participation of the PRIs, general public and the Pani samities in each camp and submit the record of all such meetings/grievance camps to the division office.
He further directed the field Engineers (AEs/JEs) to remain stationed at their respective section Headquarters and perform their legitimate duties sincerely. He said any lapse on their part shall be viewed seriously, inviting strict disciplinary action against the erring/ non performing officers of the department.
All the deadlines for submission of the information sought from time to time shall be strictly adhered to and any delay or lapse shall warrant strict action against the erring officers.
Further, the District Development Commissioner expressed his serious concern over the water leakages in the pipelines/distribution networks and illegal connections tapped on rising main/gravity main supply lines leading to wastage of drinking water and its contamination.
He directed the Executive Engineer and the Field Engineers to take immediate measures to plug the leakages besides removing all illegal connections from the rising mains/gravity main supply lines to ensure equitable distribution of the safe drinking water facilities to the public.
All concerned field Engineers/staff shall be made accountable for all such lapses. He further warned of the strict action against the concerned AEE/JE in whose jurisdiction such leakages are reported and found unattended.
He further directed the Executive Engineer PHE Division Poonch to float tenders of the Electro-mechanical works of the JJM Schemes, where the borewells have been drilled.
The Executive Engineer was asked to plan the invitation of the tenders for stage works for repair of pumping machinery/mechanical Engg. works and other M&R works to provide uninterrupted water supply to the public.
The Executive Engineer was further asked to rationalize the field staff to overcome the shortage of manpower at some places and take stern action against the non-performing field staff.
“The AEEs, AEs and Junior Engineers shall be held accountable and responsible in case of any lapse/ poor performance in achieving the targets fixed “ he added.
Others who attended the meeting were Er. Riaz Ahmad Executive Engineer PHE Division Poonch, Er. Ashaq Hussain Rather AEE Poonch, Er. Sajad Chowdhary AEE Mendhar , Er. Shakeel Ahmad AEE Surankote and S. Amarpreet Singh AEE PHE Mech. Poonch besides all AEs and Junior Engineers of PHE Civil/ Mech of PHE division Poonch.