Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 16: Irrigation Department and Ravi Tawi Irrigation Complex (RTIC) seems to have taken no lesson from Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti's last year communiqué over timely de-silting of major rivers and canals as the department is behind schedule in de-silting work. However, less than a month is left to recharge water in these canals which is schedule to be released on Baisakhi (13 of April), the department of RTIC and irrigation has succeeded in carrying out the de-silting works in patches, that too, through Rural Development Department (RDD) and major de-silting works of four major canals including Ranbir Canal, Partap canal, Ravi canal and Rawi Tawi Canal and its tributaries which is carried out by contractors through tender, is still not allotted.
Sources informed Early Times that despite order of the incumbent Minister that the de-silting works should be completed before Baisakhi, most of contractors were distancing from the department as their liabilities of previous years were still pending.
When contacted, Superintendent Engineer of Irrigation Department, Jagdish Singh Chib and Chief Engineer of RTIC Rajiv Gandotra said that the departments have started the de-silting works through RDD in patches and major desilting works would be carried out by contractors through tenders and tender would allot to contractor soon and hopefully before Baisakhi de-silting would be completed. |
