Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri met the Union Minister of Water resources C.R. Patil at his residence in Delhi on Friday and reported losses the Jal Shakti Vibhag suffered during the last three years amounting to approximately Rs.4000 crores. Sh. Agnihotri urged the Union Minister to extend a generous hand towards Himachal in view of the huge Natural Calamity the State has faced during the monsoons.
He stated that the losses suffered by the State were unprecedented and the heavy brunt has been faced by the State's Jal Shakti Vibhag. He briefed the Union Minister that the this year alone the Jal Shakti Vibhag has suffered losses of Rs. 1291.51 crores. He urged to release funds to the tune of Rs. 1227 crores was required for completion of the ongoing schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
Sh. Agnihotri advocated to get released the funds under Post Disaster need Assessment (PDNA), keeping in view the grave situation being faced by Himachal Pradesh due to flash floods and heavy disaster. He also stressed for relaxing the norms under PDNA so as to expedite the restoration work and also insisted for release of central assistance for ongoing irrigation projects under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojna (PMKSY) on priority.
The Union Minister was apprised that till date only Rs.100 crore have been received out of Rs. 697 crore approved for water supply Sector for the year 2023, though the losses faced were to the tune of Rs. 2132.70 crores in the year 2023 itself. This is hampering the progress of restoration works, he remarked.
The Deputy CM also urged for early approval of a scheme for Modernization of Command Area Development in various clusters of Haroli Block of Una estimated to cost Rs. 9778.00 lakh for which the Union Minister assured his approval on priority. Sh. Agnihotri advocated for the early release of funds for already approved 11 flood protection projects, as maximum devastation has been observed along the river banks.
He said that the 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) and requested the Union Minister to release the same at the earliest. He also underlined the need for channelization of River Beas 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. The Union Minister assured that he would look in the matter and consider the demands sympathetically and will surely approve the finances for the much needed projects catering to public interest.