Jammu (NVI): At least four districts in Jammu and Kashmir will have 100% piped water supply by April 2021 under the Central Government’s Jal Jeevan Mission while nine more districts will be covered under the JJM’s ‘Har Ghar Nal se Jal’ scheme, a meeting chaired by J&K Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam was today informed.
The Chief Secretary chaired the meeting to review the progress made under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to provide safe drinking water to all the rural population of Jammu and Kashmir.
Administrative Secretaries of Jal Shakti Department along with Chief Engineers of Jammu & Kashmir and concerned Executive Engineers also participated in the meeting.
Secretary, Jal Shakti Department apprised the Chief Secretary that efforts are underway to utilise the existing skillsets of departmental experts to achieve faster execution of projects in six districts namely Reasi, Samba, Poonch, Pulwama, Bandipora, and Shopian.
It was informed that under Phase I, universal tap water coverage has been achieved in the districts of Srinagar and Ganderbal, whereas works in the districts of Reasi and Samba are underway and will be completed shortly. It was further informed that the Department is aiming to provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) to approximately 9.8 Lakh households by March 2021.
Moreover, works are being taken up on a war footing to install the required infrastructure in four quality affected habitations of which 2 have been completed so far; drought-prone areas, Sansad Adarsh Gram areas and SC/ST majority areas. Additionally, 4038 ‘Pani Samitis’ have been constituted at Panchayat level across Jammu & Kashmir for effective monitoring of project implementation under JJM.
The department is also in the process of finalizing the skill development strategy to train 6400 personnel in masonry, plumbing, electricity, fitting, and other skill sets.
For fast-tracking the project execution under Phase-II of JJM, Chief Secretary impressed upon the Department to right away initiate the process of tendering for works and ensure adherence to project timelines. Simultaneously, the department was advised to expedite engaging ‘Project Development and Management Consultant’ (PDMC), one each for Kashmir and Jammu province, which will supervise project execution, contract & project management and bill verification in the remaining districts to be taken up under Phase II & III.
The Chief Secretary maintained that coordinated efforts must be put in place to achieve the target of providing every rural household with Functional Household Tap Connection (FHTC) under Phase-II by 30th September, 2022 and Phase-III by December, 2022.
Phase II will provide universal drinking water connections to 9 districts of Bandipora, Doda, Jammu, Kulgam, Kupwara, Poonch, Pulwama, Shopian, and Udhampur, whereas, phase III will cover 7 districts of Anantnag, Budgam, Baramulla, Kathua, Kishtwar, Ramban, and Rajouri.
-ARK
