APRIL 19: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, who also serves as the local MLA for Nowshera, conducted a detailed review of the ongoing water supply projects in his constituency. The review meeting, held today, focused on ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted water supply to Nowshera during the upcoming summer season. In addition to assessing the performance of the Jal Shakti department, the meeting also evaluated the progress of various works funded under Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), NABARD, and UT Capex schemes.
The Chief Engineer of the Jal Shakti department provided a comprehensive update, stating that a total of 70 schemes are currently in operation within Nowshera. These schemes include 51 under the Jal Jeevan Mission, 18 under the Languishing/UT Capex scheme, and one under NABARD. All these schemes are part of the larger initiative to address the ongoing water crisis in the constituency and to ensure adequate water supply, particularly with the summer season fast approaching.
The Chief Engineer also shared critical updates on the status of these projects. Out of the 18 UT Capex schemes, 11 have been completed, while work on the remaining 7 schemes is still in progress. Regarding the NABARD-funded scheme, it was noted that 75% of the work has been completed, with the remaining tasks expected to be wrapped up soon. Additionally, the financial status of the 51 Jal Jeevan Mission schemes was reviewed. As of now, Rs. 212.77 crore of the estimated Rs. 358.59 crore has been spent on procurement of materials and infrastructure development. The remaining work on most of these schemes is expected to be completed within the next month.
The Deputy Chief Minister took a scheme-wise review of all the projects across different sectors, including irrigation, flood control, and water supply. Three schemes related to the irrigation sector and one under flood control, funded by NABARD, are currently under review. The preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for two irrigation schemes is still underway, while one DPR for flood control has already been submitted.
Choudhary emphasized that ensuring a regular and adequate supply of water must be the top priority for all involved departments, especially with the summer season fast approaching. He urged all the concerned departments, including Jal Shakti, Irrigation and Flood Control, Jammu Power Development Corporation Limited (JPDCL), and the Ground Water department, to work in close coordination and synergy to provide maximum relief to the people of Nowshera.
Further, the Deputy Chief Minister instructed the officers to adhere strictly to quality parameters and ensure that all projects are completed within the stipulated timelines. He highlighted that it is imperative to expedite the pace of progress on various ongoing developmental initiatives, with a particular focus on the timely commissioning of the water supply schemes.
In addition to reviewing the water supply projects, the Deputy Chief Minister also convened a meeting to address the legal cases pending in the High Court and the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT). These cases pertain to the Industries and Commerce, Geology and Mining, Public Welfare Works, and Labour and Employment departments. The Senior Law Officer briefed the Deputy Chief Minister on the status of these pending cases, with 1083 cases from the Industries and Commerce department, 321 cases from the Geology and Mining department, and approximately 2200 cases from the Public Works Department (PWD), largely related to land acquisition, service matters, and contractual liabilities.
The Deputy Chief Minister urged the law officers to prioritize the disposal of these pending cases in favor of the respective departments. He stressed that all legal cases should be handled with utmost sincerity and diligence in order to enhance the overall disposal rate and reduce delays.
Choudhary further emphasized that the departments must take proactive measures to improve and upgrade existing infrastructure, particularly within the Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Power Development (PDD) departments, to ensure long-term sustainability and ease of public service delivery.
This comprehensive review meeting reflects the commitment of the Deputy Chief Minister and his administration to address the water crisis, streamline ongoing projects, and expedite the resolution of pending legal cases, ensuring timely service delivery and effective governance for the residents of Nowshera.