Early Times Report
JAMMU, Jan 4: The lack of coordination between the Central Ground Water Board and the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department now Jal Shakti Department has reportedly delayed the implementation of the much wanted National Aquifer Mapping Programme.
Sources in the department told Early Times that in order to conduct the proper assessment and management of ground water resources in Jammu and Kashmir to ensure their sustainability, during 12th plan period, the Aquifer Mapping under National Project on Aquifer Management Scheme on Ground Water Management and Regulation was designed for National Project on Aquifer Management (NAQUIM). They further said that in this context, the Central Ground Water Board had to conduct the entire assessment in the erstwhile State, which was completed in 2017.
"Although, the CGWB prepared and formulated the Aquifer maps and ground water management plans in respect of twelve districts including Anantnag, Srinagar, Budgam, Baramulla, Pulwama, Kupwara in Kashmir Division, while Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Kishtwar, Rajouri, Udhampur in Jammu Division but the reports prepared by CGWB could not be shared with the executing department due to non holding of meeting," they said.
They further maintained that the Central Ground Water Board had to submit the report to the State Level Ground Water Co-ordination Committee (SGWCC), which is responsible for implementation of the National Aquifer Mapping Programme at State level.
"Astonishingly, the meeting dates were fixed for sharing of reports were cancelled due to unknown reason and no meeting was held since then and as a result, the aquifer management plans formulated could not be implemented," they informed. |
