Secretary PHE, I&FC reviews departmental functioning

Be proactive to achieve developmental goals: Farooq Shah to Engineers

SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 06:  Secretary PHE, I&FC, Farooq Ahmad Shah today called upon the engineers of the PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Departments to increase their visibility on the ground and take proactive initiatives to achieve set goals for providing clean drinking water and Irrigation facilities to the people. 

The Secretary issued these directions while chairing a high-level meeting to review the functioning of PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control Departments here today.

Emphasizing the need to enhance contact with people, Farooq Shah said it is imperative that engineers are accessible on the ground so as to maintain the confidence of the people.

He stressed that having a regular touch with local populace would help the officials to take effective steps in possible emergencies. He suggested organizing of public darbars on regular basis for early redressal of public grievances.

The Secretary pinpointed the shortage of drinking water, especially in some remote areas of the valley. “It is concerning that people suffer due to the paucity of water when nature has bestowed us with a huge wealth of water resources,” he said. 

He directed to make water tankers available in those areas where there is a shortage of safe drinking water.  He also directed to make men and machinery ready in case of any emergency situation, like cloudburst and flood like situation.

He asked officers to work with utmost dedication and warned action would be taken against the erring officers, officials as per the law. He stressed upon the officials to maintain tour dairies and submit it to the concerned chief engineers after every 15 days for information.

He directed that no officials should leave their stations without proper permission from higher authorities. He directed officers to intensify inspections in their respective divisions so to strengthen work culture at the grass root level.

The secretary was briefed that there are 265 ongoing schemes under NRWDP and 73 schemes have been completed. Under NABARD, there are 33 ongoing water supply schemes, 5 have been completed. Under LIC, there are 31 ongoing schemes, those are expected to be completed within the deadline.

The meeting was informed that the department has targeted to install  1150 hand pumps in those areas where there is water scarcity. Out of which 612 have already been completed and the remaining will be completed by March 2019.        

The meeting was informed that the Flood Control Department has taken up 6 centrally sponsored schemes under Flood Management Programme (FMP) in various parts of the Valley for flood protection.

While reviewing the status of ongoing Irrigation schemes, the Secretary was apprised that two major/medium Lift Irrigation Schemes (LIS) at Tral are targeted to be completed during this year.

While as Rajpora LIS is expected to be completed next year. The work on other major schemes is also in progress. The Secretary was informed that at least 15 ongoing schemes under State sector are in progress.    

It was given out that the department has taken up 175 minor irrigation schemes in the Kashmir Valley of which 32 have been completed while as 62 are expected to be completed during this year.

While taking stock of other PHE and Irrigation schemes, the Secretary stressed on the need for speeding up the pace of works to complete the on-going lift irrigation schemes within the stipulated time frame. He emphasized the need for maintaining the quality of works strictly as per the specification and judicious use of funds.

He directed the Chief Engineers and SEs to personally monitor the execution of works so that targets are achieved on time.

He directed the officials to prepare a detailed report of all those languishing schemes which have become defunct since long period so that necessary steps would be taken to make them functional again. It was informed in the meeting that across J&K State 1500 languishing schemes/ projects will be completed by the end of March 2019.  

He directed the offices to keep proper maintenance in all the filtration plants and also upgrade their laborites to check water contents.

Later the Secretary held a video conference with Chief Engineer PHE Jammu and other officers of PHE and I&FC departments regarding languishing schemes in Jammu Division. He directed the officials to complete all such languishing schemes by the end of March 2019.  

Chief Engineer I&FC Kashmir, M M Shahnawaz, Chief Engineer PHE Kashmir, Abdul Wahid, Director Planning, Director Finance, Superintending Engineers, Executive Engineers and other officers of PHE and I&FC departments were present in the meeting.