JAMMU: Stressing that providing adequate potable drinking water and irrigation facilities to people is priority of the Government, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Choudhary asked the concerned for effective implementation of programmes launched under these sectors.
The Minister was speaking at the meeting convened here today to get first hand appraisal of progress of various projects under execution in PHE, Irrigation and Flood control sectors in the Jammu Division besides overall functioning of these Organizations held here on Thursday.
Minister of State for PHE, Irrigation, Flood Control, Forests, Animal, Sheep Husbandry, Fisheries and Cooperatives, Mir Zahoor Ahmad was also present in the meeting.
Secretary, PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, M Raju briefed the meeting about the activities of these departments.
The Minister asked the authorities of PHE, I & FC to gear up their field functionaries and accelerate the pace of work on all ongoing projects including Water Supply schemes (WSSs) and complete them in a stipulated time frame.
Asking the concerned for timely furnishing of correct and detailed information with regard to Questions, Calling Attention Notices and Cut Motions during the session from the Administrative Department, Sham Choudhary warned that strict action will be taken under rules against the erring officer/official who will be responsible for furnishing inadequate and incorrect information.
Expressing satisfaction over the working of PHE, I & FC Department, the Minister also asked for cent per cent utilization of funds earmarked for the schemes under the sectors during the current fiscal. Ensure timely completion of schemes fixed for 2017-2018 to avoid cost escalation, the Minister added.
The meeting was informed that against Rs 135 crore, Rs 38 crore has been incurred on major and medium irrigation works while as the construction work on 72 new schemes at the cost of Rs 30 crore is going on in full swing. It was also informed that under PMKSY, the construction work on various projects costing Rs 69 crore are also apace. It was appraised in the meeting that under Tawi Barage programme, an amount of Rs 58 crore has been incurred against the total cost of Rs 69.7 crore so far. It was also informed that an amount of Rs 28 crore has been spent on shifting of irrigation utility in respect of Airport Expansion project against the total cost of Rs 59 crore.
Taking stock of PHE sector, it was apprised that presently there are 825 ongoing schemes which include 711 under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), 61 LIC and 53 NARBARD on which Rs 80.7 crore have been incurred so far.
Among others, Chief Engineer, Ravi Tawi Irrigation, Rajeev Gandotra, Chief Engineer, PHE Jammu Ashok Gandotra, Chief Engineer Irrigation Jammu K K Mangotra and other Senior Officers of PHE, I & FC Departments attended the meeting.