JAMMU: In a proactive effort to restore essential services in flood-affected areas of Jammu, Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, chaired a high-level review meeting with key officials, legislators and district heads.
The primary focus of the meeting was to assess and expedite the restoration of disrupted water supply services in the wake of the recent floods.
The meeting was attended by DDC Chairperson Bharat Bhushan, legislators Ch. Vikram Randhawa, Arvind Gupta, Sham Lal Sharma, Dr. Narinder Singh, along with senior officers including Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Commissioner Jammu Municipal Corporation, Chief Engineers of I&FC, Jal Shakti, and UEED Jammu, as well as Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers.
During the session, the Minister was briefed on the ongoing restoration efforts, the progress made so far, challenges faced, and the measures being implemented to speed up relief operations and restore normal water supply.
Rana emphasized the urgency of restoring the water supply infrastructure, particularly in flood-impacted areas, ensuring that residents have access to clean drinking water.
The Minister directed the immediate deployment of water tankers to areas where the water supply had been severely disrupted. He also recommended utilizing private water tankers on an interim basis to augment the existing fleet of tankers and ensure an uninterrupted water supply.
Additionally, he proposed the use of fire tenders for areas where tankers could not reach, ensuring a continuous supply of water to the affected communities.
To streamline the restoration efforts, Minister Rana directed the nomination of a dedicated nodal officer to coordinate between departments and ensure the timely completion of restoration work.
Furthermore, he instructed the Chief Engineer to oversee the distribution of restoration tasks and rationalize manpower to speed up the restoration process.
The legislators who attended the meeting voiced their constituency-specific challenges, urging a faster pace of restoration. They highlighted areas where water supply had been severely hampered and called for immediate action.
In response, the Minister assured the legislators that their concerns were a priority for the government. He also reassured them that a range of measures were already underway to address the issues and expedite the restoration process.
Rana was informed that restoration work on the Water Supply Scheme in Shitlee is currently progressing in double shifts and will be fully restored within five days.
Additionally, the Power Development Department (PDD) has been instructed to immediately restore the dedicated feeder lines identified by the Jal Shakti Department, which is crucial for the restoration of water supply in the affected regions.
The Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED), in collaboration with the Flood Control Department, has been tasked with working alongside the concerned MLA to develop a comprehensive master plan for the construction of nallas (drains) and restoration of flood-damaged infrastructure.
This plan will ensure that the water supply infrastructure is fortified and restored in the long term to prevent future disruptions.
Earlier, the Minister visited Bathindi Heights in Jammu to listen to the public’s grievances. Accompanied by former legislator T.S. Tony and senior officials from the Jal Shakti Department, Rana reassured residents that the government was fully committed to ensuring uninterrupted access to drinking water.
Rana stressed that providing safe drinking water to the citizens, especially in the aftermath of the floods, is the government’s primary responsibility.
He assured the public that all necessary measures were being taken to restore the flood-hit water supply infrastructure at the earliest.
The government is focused on speedy restoration, and with the cooperation of all stakeholders, it aims to bring normalcy back to the affected regions as swiftly as possible.
