Govt committed to provide potable water to people: Abdul Haq

Model villages to be developed on modern lines with better roads, basic amenities, better schools

KUPWARA, AUGUST 28: Minister for Rural Development Panchayati Raj, Law and Justice Abdul Haq today reviewed the functioning of PHE department and progress on Model Villages under Border Area Development Program in Lolab constituency.

The meeting was attended by Chief Engineer PHE department, DC Kupwara, CPO Kupwara, SE, Exen PHE and other senior officers of Kupwara district and PHE department.

Speaking on the occasion, minister said the government is duty bound to supply clean and pure drinking water to the people of the state and it has adopted a holistic approach to streamline water supply scenario in the state especially in rural areas.

Minister said the people in the rural areas especially women have earlier suffered a lot as there are many such areas where they have to walk miles to fetch water and that steps are being taken to provide pure drinking water supply to people in these areas. He said many Water Supply Schemes have been commissioned while many are under construction which will be soon dedicated to the people.

Minister was informed that there are 14 Water Supply Schemes in Lolab valley which are being executed under NRDWP with an estimated cost of Rs 21.41 crore. In addition to NRDWP, three more schemes are also being executed at the cost of Rs 3.10 crore.

During the meeting, minister directed the officials of PHE department to resolve to public issues within the shortest possible time and complete all the works on filtration plants within one month.      

While reviewing the functioning of the department, Abdul Haq was informed that the Filtration plant for Lastiyal village will be completed by 20^th September while Filtration plant for Thayan village will be completed and inaugurated on 5^th September.

Abdul Haq also directed the department to procure pipes of different diameters within 15 days and also directed to maintain the store of the department at Wavoora which should be fenced at earliest.

The department was also directed to fix leakages in water pipes at different places. Minister appealed people to immediately inform the department if they find leakage of clean drinking water is detected at any place.

The Minister took a detailed review of BADP Model Villages including Machil, Sarkuli, Diver and Chalgund.

          The meeting was informed that under BADP Rs 21.30 Crore has been sanctioned for Machil Model Village, 11 crore for Sarkuli, Rs15.10 crore for Diver and Rs 14.02 crore for Chalgund model village.

          Abdul Haq said the Model Villages announced by the government will be a sustainable rural community that will be able to generate and maintain the resources necessary to improve its level of wellbeing and happiness without depleting economic, social & environmental values.

He said in doing so, the Model Villages will strengthen the sustainability pillars of Livelihood, Infrastructure and Services. He said by taking benefits of all the state and centrally sponsored schemes, the model villages will be developed on modern lines without disturbing the environment of the village.

          Minister asked the officials to complete the works at earliest. HE said these model village will be developed on modern lines to bring at par with urban areas and funds will be spend under different sectors in the village. He instructed officers to utilize funds judiciously and develop the village without disturbing its eco system.  

          He said these model villages would be developed as model villages in real sense and not for the sake of it. He said in past there was a trend of announcing model villages and it would not bring a visible improvement in the village. He said under the BADP program, the village will be developed on modern lines with better roads, basic amenities and better schools.