GANDERBA: The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, today visited breach spot on the Sindh Extension Canal at Malshahibagh, Ganderbal and took stock of ongoing restoration work.
The breach which resulted from sloughing in December last year and affected the 6.8 MGD Alasteng WTP, which supplies water to several areas in the north of Srinagar and several parts of Ganderbal district.
The Div Com was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhury, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Shafqat Iqbal, Chief Engineers of PHE, Abdul Wahid and I&FC, Mir Shahnawaz, ADC Ganderbal, Farooq Ahmad Baba, SE Hydraulic, Ganderbal, Executive Engineer I&FC Ganderbal and other concerned.
While reviewing the progress of work on the breached spot, the Div Com directed the concerned authorities to expedite work on breached spot by way of engaging more men and machinery and exhorted for charging the canal within the shortest possible time.
The Executive Engineer, I&FC briefed the Div Com about the excavation plan and current progress of the repair work.
The Div Com was also informed that portable water is supplied to 15 lakh people of Srinagar district and about 1 lakh souls of Ganderbal district besides several hectares of agricultural land is also dependent on the canal for irrigation.
While reviewing the repair work on the spot, the concerned officials raised the issue of material supply due to lock down including steel for truss grider flumed bridge, which they construe as the main reason for the slow progress of work. The Div Com said that matter will be taken up with the concerned supplying agency, company and directed the DC Ganderbal to form a comprehensive plan so that the work on the breached spot is completed at the earliest, in view Kharif irrigation season.
To ensure that the affected areas receive adequate drinking water supply, the Div Com directed the concerned to ensure sufficient rows of temporary pipes are laid to bypass the damaged spot to overcome the shortage of portable water in the affected areas.
