JAMMU: Principal Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra, today reviewed progress on development works being executed under the jurisdiction of Irrigation Division number 1, Jammu.
He inspected the construction work on Tawi Barrage and issued instructions for expediting the work to ensure its completion within the fixed date.
Principal Secretary also inspected the desilting works on Ranbir Canal and expressed satisfaction over the progress and quality of these works being executed by the Irrigation & Flood Control Department Jammu.
Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control Department Jammu, Manoj Gupta, explained that the Ranbir Canal has been designed to carry a discharge of 1400 cusecs, out of which, 1000 cusecs is being used for irrigation purpose to cater to the command area of 38608 hectare spread over 489 villages of Jammu district.
It was also informed that for the first time, the desilting of a huge network of Ranbir Canal (60 km main canal & 400 km distributaries) is at an advanced stage and the main canal shall be recharged on 6th of March within a record period of approximately 2 months which is one month short of the earlier practice of canal closure i.e. from 15th Jan to 13th Apr.
Principal Secretary stressed that Irrigation scheduling being issued for Kharief and Rabi crops by the Agriculture Department in consultation with Irrigation Department should be followed strictly to ensure equitable and judicious use of irrigation supply so that the farmers at the tail end also receive an adequate supply.
Principal Secretary took strong notice of the dumping of municipal garbage at various spots along the banks of the main Ranbir Canal and its distribution system. He directed the Executive Engineer F R Bhagat to take up the issues with the concerned agencies for an appropriate solution.
