Srinagar, Feb 20: Pipes laid over 2600 kilometres by the Public Health Engineering Department for supply of drinking water and irrigation purposes are without any trace, sources said.
 They said the department over the years has laid the water pipes in different parts of the State under different schemes for drinking and irrigation purposes.  However, after some time the department has either started a different scheme or leaving the old scheme half way.
 Sources said in Kupwara District the department has sought metal detectors from Army to locate pipes laid for an irrigation scheme started some 15 years ago. “The scheme was not completed. It was left half way with some officials saying there was Court case but on scrutiny it was found that there was no court order to stay the work,” said a senior official. He said to start the irrigation scheme again and locate the old pipes, which were laid 15 years ago the department has sought metal detectors from the Army. 
 “The concerned officials say the pipes were laid in a huge area. But they are visible. Now the department is planning to trace the pipes, if at all laid, through the metal detectors,” sources said.
 There are some schemes approved by the department without any survey. Sources said a scheme was approved by the Department in Shopian and the pipes were laid to get drinking water for some villages from a low land where rainwater used to accumulate.
 On inspection the officials of the department were shocked to see the sources of water scheme. The department had without any prior survey approved the scheme.
 There are some 2400 irrigation and drinking water schemes to be executed by the PHE. However most of the schemes either have been left after half way construction. 
 The PHE Minister Taj Mohi-ud-Din when contacted conceded the problem. He describes it as “accumulative and criminal neglect.” He said the Government has decided any future scheme would be approved only after the approval of the Superintending Engineer and the Chief Engineer. He said the government has taken tougher measures to streamline the system. He said irrigation and water supply schemes, which were left half way, would be completed.
 “This is fact that execution of the work on various schemes was stopped by the Department citing High Court orders. But on scrutiny we found that no Court orders exist,” Taj said. The Minister said that the Government would ensure proper transparency in the system and will not allow anyone to stall the execution of the work.
 Taj said old schemes left half way would be “rejuvenated and restarted.”

Lastupdate on : Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST