Srinagar: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs Javed Ahmed Rana and Minister for Agriculture Production, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Javid Ahmad Dar on Thursday jointly reviewed the progress of desilting works of irrigation khuls and execution of micro irrigation projects across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting assessed works being undertaken under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act for the financial year 2025-26 and also reviewed the proposed action plan for 2026-27 aimed at strengthening irrigation infrastructure and improving water availability for agriculture.
Additional Chief Secretary Jal Shakti, Shaleen Kabra, and other senior officers attended the meeting.
Officials presented a detailed overview of the physical and financial progress achieved under the ongoing works and informed the ministers about the proposed micro irrigation action plan covering all 20 districts of the Union Territory.
According to the presentation, a total of 4,41,315 works are planned across J&K during 2026-27, including 82,563 micro irrigation works and 9,034 desilting operations.
Of these, 2,384 desilting works are proposed to be executed in convergence mode through inter-departmental coordination.
The meeting was informed that maintenance and desilting of khuls, nallahs and distributaries would be carried out in coordination with the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department.
Officials further informed that 25,810 micro irrigation works have already been undertaken across the Union Territory under convergence mode, with an expenditure of Rs 270.52 crore incurred so far.
The ministers stressed that the initiatives would improve irrigation infrastructure, enhance crop productivity, encourage diversified cropping patterns and strengthen rural livelihoods.
They directed officers to expedite all pending and ongoing desilting works within the stipulated timeframe and ensure technical efficiency and sustainability in execution.
The ministers also emphasised active involvement of allied departments in planning and implementation to align projects with region-specific agricultural requirements and crop patterns.
They further directed officials to complete all preparatory processes well before the onset of the irrigation season to avoid inconvenience to farmers.
The ministers also asked the concerned departments to assess the functioning of pump stations and undertake repair or replacement wherever required to improve irrigation facilities across Jammu and Kashmir.
