| Efforts afoot to augment PHE, irrigation facilities: Sham | | “70% paddy transplantation done in catchment areas of Ranbir, Partap Canals, 80% in other districts” | | Early Times Report
JAMMU, July 18 : Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma today said that concerted measures were being taken to augment the Drinking Water and irrigation facilities through modernization of WSS and irrigation canals.
Speaking at a high level meeting convened to review functioning of PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control departments here today, the Minister expressed satisfaction that 70 percent paddy transplantation has been done in the areas fed by Ranbir and Partap Canals , besides 80 percent in other districts of Jammu region.
The minister reviewed status of various ongoing development schemes and action taken in the previous meeting. He also took stock of desilting work on various canals, drinking water supply and demand, functioning of irrigation tube wells, purchase of modern kits for PHE field Staff, compilation of the lists of casual labour and daily wagers to be furnished to administrative department, level of discharge of Ravi Tawi and Partap Canal, works taken up for the revival of traditional ponds, water quality testing at PHE installations, framing of action plan for new schemes, progress on divisional sanitation committee report, installation of sign board of every scheme, water supply to educational institutions, progress on Chenab Water Supply Scheme, functioning of communication and capacity development unit, installation of Water meters, status of Surinsar, Mansar, Dansar and Nai Gud schemes. In irrigation sector the Minister took stock of Hans Canal, Naigad, Veripattan as well as Kathua canal. Sham took serious note of the failure of PHE Divisions which have failed to compile the list of casual labours and asked the Chief Engineer to seek explanation from the concerned Xens for the delay. He asked newly appointed State Coordinator to educate the people as well as local representative particularly farmers precautions to be taken to prevent water borne, Malaria and other disease. He asked the engineers to personally monitor the restoration work on traditional water reservoirs, ponds as these would greatly help in meeting the water requirements. He said that direction has already been passed to construct revive 10 ponds in every divisions for the augmentation of water resources. He said that access to safe drinking water is the right of every common man and the government was committed to provide this facility to every nook and corner of the state.
Sham said that government was committed to upgrade the existing infrastructure of PHE and irrigation so that the people of the state get safe drinking water and irrigation facilities. He said that agriculture is life line of the state’s economy as more than 80% population is directly or indirectly engaged with this important sector. He instructed the concerned engineers and officers to formulate a comprehensive plan for the revival of irrigations canals, traditional Reservoirs and Check dams to improve the ground water table.
Among others Chief Engineer, PHE, K K Gupta, Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control, Varinder Badyal, Chief Engineer, Ravi Tawi, H C Jearth, SE Hydraulic, Rajeev Malhotra, SE & Executive Engineers of PHE, I&FC of Jammu division and senior officers of concerned departments were also present on the occasion. |
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