Baramulla, Apr 28: Signifying non-seriousness of the Public Health Engineering Department to provide potable water to people of Baramulla district, only 25 out of 209 water supply schemes have been completed in past seven years in the district. 
 Official documents reveal that failure in implementation of these schemes has been caused by poor planning, improper mechanism and impulsive prioritization.
 The Department had initiated implementation of 209 water supply schemes under the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) and District Plan Schemes during 2005-11. However, only 25 out of 209 schemes were completed in past seven years putting a question mark on the functioning of the Department.
 "Despite spending Rs 128.83 crore during 2005-2011, the PHE Department was able to complete only 25 schemes, leaving 184 schemes incomplete," documents reveal.
 Faulty planning by the PHE Department has not only caused inordinate delay in completion of various schemes by caused a loss of whopping Rs 2.62 crores.
 Dangerpora water supply scheme was initiated with an estimated cost of Rs 95 lakhs. Documents reveal that despite spending of Rs 69 lakhs, the scheme was left mid-way due to the failure of the PHE Department to get clearance from the Forest Department.
 Similarly am amount of Rs 78.55 lakhs out of 144 lakhs was spent on Zamzampora water supply scheme. “However service reservoir and filtration plant could not be constructed as the department failed to obtain forest clearance certificate,” documents reveal.
 Water supply schemes in Branwari, Dardpora, Zaloora, Charhar, Marbal and Sadipora Dangerpora could not be completed due to various disputes.
 Though 958 habitations were scheduled to get drinking water facilities, however only 66 habitations were fully covered while 768 habitations were partially covered.
 “Several schemes were taken up by the department when scores of other schemes were already in progress. As a result the new schemes have also been affected,” sources said.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 28 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST