Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that several drinking water projects have been sanctioned for Budhal constituency while relief measures are in place for victims of human-wildlife conflict across the Union Territory.
Replying to a question by MLA Javid Iqbal, Minister for Jal Shakti Javed Ahmed Rana said villages of Khawas block, including Kanthol and Marutha, are being covered under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) to ensure safe and adequate drinking water supply. He informed the House that 16 Water Supply Schemes (WSSs) have been approved for the area, of which four have been completed while the remaining are at different stages of execution.
The Minister said the region has witnessed drought-like conditions in recent years and scanty rainfall has led to depletion of water sources during peak summer months. He added that the borewell source of WSS Budhal has also been adversely affected, causing shortages in certain habitations during lean summer periods. As an interim arrangement, drinking water is being supplied through tanker services.
For long-term sustainability, three Detailed Project Reports — WSS Badhal-B, WSS Kotecharwal and WSS Kotranka — have been prepared and are under consideration to augment existing schemes and extend coverage to left-out and higher-altitude habitations, he said.
Meanwhile, replying to another question by MLA Sajad Shaheen, Rana said ex-gratia assistance is provided in cases of human injury or loss of life due to human-wildlife conflict under the prevailing policy framework in Jammu and Kashmir.
Several legislators, including Choudhary Mohammad Akram, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Qaiser Jamsheed Lone and Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi, demanded enhanced relief and inclusion of agricultural and livestock losses. The Minister said there is currently no approved policy or separate budgetary provision for compensation of livestock losses due to wildlife attacks, but the government is in correspondence with the Animal Husbandry Department to extend support to affected farmers. He added that the Forest and Agriculture departments are also examining inclusion of additional crops under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) for damages caused by wild animals.
