Complete JJM schemes: CS

Srinagar, Aug 3: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo Saturday called on the officials of the Jal Shakti Department to focus on ‘Har Ghar Nal Se Jal’ certification and complete all major Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) schemes in Jammu and Kashmir.

Holding a periodical review of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to take stock of achieving its mission of providing Functional Tap Water Connections (FHTCs) to all the households in J&K, the chief secretary took note of the progress made on the completion of schemes impressed upon the concerned officers to simultaneously take steps for ‘Har Ghar Nal se Jal’ certification of villages by the community.

He also advised proper documentation of the inspections done by consultants about source sustainability and technical feasibility to ensure that relevant reports are available for everyone interested to go through the same.

Dulloo said that since most of the schemes were going to be completed soon, the department should have worked out a reasonable O&M plan for looking after these valuable assets and running these schemes smoothly for the public.

He encouraged the department to look out for possible IoT-based solutions to have access to data like quality, quantity, and timing of water supplied to the people.

The chief secretary emphasised that this data would help in better monitoring of these schemes along with providing a fair idea about the need for resources and manpower to operate each of them.

Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra said that the department had devised a scheme completion plan to achieve the objectives in a time-bound manner.

He said that this plan envisages the completion of 229 schemes in the first quarter of this financial year, 1111 and 1318 in the next two quarters to meet the target.

Kabra said that currently, 894 schemes had achieved progress of 76 percent to 99 percent, and 922 schemes had achieved progress of 51 percent to 75 percent, which demonstrates the commitment of the department to complete the mission on time.

It was pinpointed in the meeting that the department was carrying out third-party studies about the technical feasibility and source sustainability of schemes to double-check these parameters.

It was revealed that to date 553 reports had been received from these consultants and PMs of which 512 had been analysed to gauge the specific issues faced in each case.

It was said that of the 58 source sustainability issues found in these studies, 55 were related to groundwater and three to surface sources.

The meeting also discussed the status of electromechanical works carried out so far and the equipment installed or pending in each Jal Shakti division.

It also took notice of the establishment of electric substations, and procurement of GI, DI, and HDPE pipes for the mission.

It was divulged during this meeting that to date 1007 villages had been reported by the field functionaries to be ‘Har Ghar Jal Villages’ out of which 471 have been certified too by the locals there.

Later in another meeting called to review the schemes implemented by the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department, the Chief Secretary took appraisal of works being executed for facilitating irrigation or protection against floods.

He stressed spending funds received under the scheme ‘Har Khetko Pani’ and those received under NABARD.

He asked to ensure the completion of works executed by the Department to receive the waters from Shahpur Kandidam.

Dulloo also enquired about the commissioning of Tawi Barrage after its completion by the executing agencies.

He called for making strenuous efforts for its early pondage so that it adds to the beauty of Jammu city.

The meeting also discussed the flood protection works going on under PMDP phase II and those near AIIMS Jammu on River Devika.

The meeting additionally took note of the de-siltation works of irrigation canals carried out in convergence with the Rural Development Department.

Regarding the performance of the department of the ACS, Jal Shakti, Kabra informed the meeting that there were some 1135 works and schemes approved at a cost of around Rs 4511 crore in J&K.

He said that it comprises 676 schemes under UT Capex, 36 under NABARD, 19 under FMBAP, and 401 under PMKSY HKKP.

Kabra said that 320 schemes had already been completed and 614 were slated to be finished this financial year.

About the outcome of PMDP-I, it was divulged that the carrying capacity of River Jhelum had been enhanced by around 10,000 cusecs from Sangam to Padshahi Baghand that of Flood Spill Channel at off-take point Padshahi Bagh by 4700 cusecs over what was before September 2014.

About the minor irrigation schemes taken up in J&K, the meeting was apprised that of the 401 schemes at an estimated cost of Rs 1242 crore, 204 had been completed and 143 were currently under progress.

The meeting held discussions over the status of Tawi Barrage, Shahpur Kandi Dam, and the reconstruction of Balolesyphon on the Ravi Canal.

It held an in-depth review of the extent of work completed physically and their financial progress too.

The works include those taken up under NABARD, UT Capex, and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS).

The meeting was also attended by Chairman JKWRRA; MD JJM; Chief Engineers of Jal Shakti and I&FC Departments.