Sham Choudhary discusses priorities for 2018-19 departmental Budget

 

Stresses on judicious use of funds, proper maintenance of assets

JAMMU, NOVEMBER 09: Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Choudhary today directed the engineers to use funds judiciously for creation of new PHE assets and maintenance of the existing ones.

The Minister issued the directions while chairing a meeting to finalise revised estimates under CAPEX Budget for the current financial year and discuss the priorities for 2018-19 Budget.

The meeting was attended by Commissioner/Secretary PHE, I&FC department M Raju, Chief Engineer, I&FC P.N Bali, Chief Engineer, RTIC Rajeev Gandotra, Chief Engineer, PHE Kashmir Abdul Wahid, Chief Engineer, I&FC Kashmir M.M Shahnawaz, Director, Agriculture H.K Razdan and senior engineers.

The Minister directed the Executive Engineers not to take up any work without the approval of the Administrative Department. He called for utilizing every penny judiciously and proper maintenance of the PHE Installations. 

The Minister was informed about the additional funds required under CAPEX Budget for installation of hand pumps, Water Supply Schemes in Katra, Pai Nallah, Jai and Mahu Sialusi, alternate WSS to save Surinsar lake, replacement of old and worn-out machinery of 65 tube wells in Basohli, execution of protection work to save existing infrastructure at CPS Samadhian, construction of Jal Bhawan, upgrading of distribution network in Dablehar and Bari Brahmana, improvement of electromechanical infrastructure at Bathindi, Trikuta Nagar and extension of Stage-II Batala to Nekrian Narwal.

The Minister also reviewed the works being done by the department under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to provide ‘Har Khet Ko Paani’ and asked the officers to work dedicatedly for realising PM Narendra Modi’s dream of doubling farmers’ income by 2022.

Later, the Minister also planted saplings in Office of Executive Engineer, PHE Mechanical Division Jammu South. He asked the department to maintain cleanliness at the PHE stations.