Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri met the Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil at New Delhi today. The meeting revolved around urgent release of funds to Jal Shakti Department under Jal Jeevan Mission.
He apprised Sh. Patil that though an amount of Rs. 916.53 cr. has been allocated by the Government of India under Jal Jeevan Mission for current financial year, but till date only an amount Rs.137.48 crore has been released to the State Government resulting in hampering the progress of ongoing works.
Sh. Agnihotri stressed that 1st and 2nd tranche of 1st instalment of Jal Jeevan Mission be released soon so as to ensure the completion of ongoing schemes. Mukesh Agnihotri stressed that State Government is making all out effort to provide improved Irrigation facilities to the habitants of Himachal Pradesh and exhorted the Union Minister for liberal grants.
The Matter regarding permission to execute the 67 winter waters supply schemes amounting to Rs. 517.16 Cr. (including vibrant village schemes) was also discussed and request was made to approve these schemes so as to ensure regular water supply in the Tribal areas.
Sh. Agnihotri thanked the Union Minister for inclusion of Phina Singh project for funding under PMKSY and requested that the funds to the tune of Rs.135 crore may kindly be released for the current financial year in order to expedite the execution of the project. Approval of two more projects namely Beet Area and Kuthlehar amounting to Rs. 120.79 crore was also requested.
Sh. Patil stated that the sanction letter of these schemes would be issued forthwith and allocation of funds would also be made in due course very soon. In addition to these projects, matter regarding release of central assistance for ongoing irrigation projects under PMKSY was also discussed.
Sh. Agnihotri urged to release the balance of centrally assisted three projects namely SMI scheme Labrang Garden Colony in Kinnaur, LIS Barorti Mandap and LIS Sandhole both in district Mandi amounting to Rs. 3.26 crore. Sh. Agnihotri requested for the approval of five Sewerage projects under Namami Gange (namely Sewerage system in the catchment of river Pabar at Chirgaon, Rohru and Saraswati Nagar in District Shimla, providing sewerage scheme to Solan and Kandaghat in district Solan, providing sewerage scheme to Dadahu and Rajgarh Town in Sirmaur.
C.R. Patil assured that he was aware of the situation and the funds would be released very soon so as to ensure the completion of ongoing schemes. He also assured to consider the other demands sympathetically.