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| Rs 21.71 Cr water supply scheme abandoned | | Huge public funds wasted | |  Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Anantnag, Dec 13: Rambirpora-Kehribal areas of South Kashmir's Anantnag district continue to face shortage of safe drinking water as PHE Department has failed to complete Rs 21.71 Cr water supply scheme.
Foundation stone of the 1MGD Rambirpora-Kehribal Water Supply Scheme was laid by former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on May 19, 2016. Scheme was taken up under NABARD and was to be completed within two years; however the department hasn't only failed to complete the scheme but has now officially called it off after siphoning huge funds.
Pipes meant for the scheme were lying on road side in Rambirpora-Kehribal and a filtration plant constructed in the area is also lying dysfunctional.
Irked over the official apathy, hopeless residents of Rambirpora-Kehribal villages are now demanding a fair probe and stern against all those officials who couldn't resolve the issue and instead failed the multi-crore scheme. "We approached everyone from PHE department officers to politicians but our repeated pleas fell on deaf ears," residents told Early Times. "We were told that people of Shangus constituency raised objections over the scheme and without exploring a settlement of the issue department ironically closed the scheme," they said.
Altaf Ahmad, a local resident told Early Times that area comprising five villages Kheribal, Rampora, Ranbipora, Check- e-shardath and Wantrag is currently getting drinking water supply from Shah-Koul which is completely unsafe and can't be used for drinking purposes. PHE Department officials admitted that Rambirpora-Kehribal scheme hasn't been completed. However, they said that tussle between the people of two areas-Rambipora and Shnagus- over source taping of the scheme led to its closure.
"Source of Rambirpora-Kehribal Water Supply Scheme was Nallah Arpath but people of Kuthar-Deethoo -Chattergul-falling in Shangus Assembly Constituency-raised objections and didn't allow the department to execute the work," said an officer, who previously had supervised the works.
Flood Control projects costing Rs. 313.37 crores were submitted to NABARD for funding out of which 42 water supply schemes costing Rs. 107.14 crores were approved
On December 2 last year, a team of vigilance raided the Civil Public Health Engineering (PHE) Division office in Bijbehara Anantnag district and had seized some important documents.
Raid was conducted after the Vigilance received complaints about large scale irregularities committed post 2014 floods.
It was also alleged that irregularities were committed in execution of 1MGD Rambirpora-Kehribal Water Supply Scheme, which has been taken up under NABARD at a cost of Rs 21.71 crore, Hassanpora-Tavella water supply scheme, Kistwar-Semthan water supply scheme and in other high budgeted scheme. However it is unclear, whether the vigilance investigation into these allegations has reached to any logical conclusion. |
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