Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri met Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat alongwith the team of Jal Shakti Vibhag officers today at his residence in New Delhi. Mukesh Agnihotri urged upon the Union Minister to extend a generous hand towards Himachal in view of the huge natural calamity the State has faced in the recent past. He stated that the losses suffered by the State were unprecedented and its heavy brunt has been faced by the Jal Shakti Vibhag.
Jal Shakti Vibhag‘s 11863 schemes suffered extensive damages amounting to Rs. 2132 crore and out of these 671 schemes were constructed under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) also suffered losses amounting to Rs. 614 crore. He informed the Union Minister that out of the allocation of Rs. 376 crore under JJM 25 percent i.e. approximately Rs. 96 crores would have to be spent for restoration of damaged schemes.
This would result into shortfall of funds for ongoing works on JJM. Deputy Chief Minister further elaborated that as per approved Annual Action Plan 2023-24 (AAP) allocations under JJM is Rs.1274 crore, which stands curtailed to Rs. 376 crores by center government. He urged the Union Minister that keeping in view the grave situation being faced by Himachal, its Annual Action Plan be restored to Rs. 1274 crore.
The Union Minister assured that he would look in the matter and consider the request of Himachal sympathetically. He further requested the Union Minister that an extension of 6 months for completion of spillover JJM schemes should be allowed to Himachal as during the last 3 months the entire focus of the Jal Shakti Vihag was towards restoration of the damaged schemes resulting in hampering the progress of ongoing works.
Mukesh Agnihotri reminded the Union Minister that during his visit of Himachal, he had directed the State Government of frame Anti Freeze Water supply schemes for snowbound area of Himachal on the pattern of Leh and Ladakh. Accordingly the State Government has forwarded 27 Anti freeze proposals to the Centre for approval under JJM.
Though 4 pilot proposals for Bharmour, Lahaul, Kaza and Chango (Kinnaur) have been approved, he requested the Union Minister to approve remaining 23 proposals expeditiously. The Union Minister assured that the remaining proposals would be considered on a priority basis.
Issues regarding irrigation and flood were also discussed. Deputy Chief Minister stated that two proposals of Surface Minor Irrigation schemes for Beet Area Phase-II and Kutlehar constituency of District Una amounting to Rs. 118.79 crore are lying with center government and requested for their immediate approval. The Union Minister assured the same.
Mukesh Agnihotri thanked the Union Minister for granting investment clearance to Phina Singh Irrigation Project for Rs. 643 crore in District Kangra and Channelization of Swan River in Beas basin for Rs. 339 crores in District Una, which had been pending for a long. He urged the center government to release the funds so that these works could be started.
He also took up the matter for the release of central assistance to ongoing irrigation projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) on priority. The Union Minister assured that he would approve it on priority. Mukesh Agnihotri further requested for approval of 4 proposals for providing sewerage systems in Chirgaon, Rohru, Sarawati Nagar, Solan, Kandhghat and Dadahu amounting to Rs. 289 crores under Namami Gange.
The above proposals are lying with center government for approval. The Union Minister assured that the proposals would be considered sympathetically. He also requested for release of pending funds in respect of Micro Irrigation Project (MIP) Nadaun, Lift Irrigation Scheme (LIS) Baroti-Mandap, LIS Masot Khad and flood protection works for Sakrain, Malhod under PMKSY and Flood Management Program. The Union Minister assured that the proposals shall be considered for release of balanced funds.
Mukesh Agnihotri stressed for the release of funds for already approved 11 flood protection projects. He further elaborated that widespread rain damages occurred in Himachal and maximum devastation has been observed along the banks of different rivers. In order that it does has been a history of such occurrences in these rivers or rivulets and Jal Shakti Vibhag has prepared a detailed project report for Rs. 1795 crores for channelization after conducting model studies from Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) Pune.
He requested the Union Minister to release the same at the earliest to safeguard the life and property of people in Himachal. He emphasized the importance of channelization of Beas River in view of its strategic importance as Kullu-Manali Airport, the Chandigarh-Leh National Highway lies on the banks of this river. He further added that channelization of this river would ensure safe movement of tourists besides transportation of Horticulture produce from the Kullu and Lahaul valley.
Deputy Chief Minister thanked the Union Minister for releasing central assistance of Rs. 141.76 crore in two equal installments (FY 2023-24) for 14 small & Medum Irrigation (SMI) schemes of Himachal Pradesh under PMKSY. He also thanked for the release of central assistance of Rs. 221.78 lakh under the National Hydrology project of Himachal Pradesh.