Secretary PHE Farooq Ahmad Shah on Friday said the government is committed to providing safe drinking water to the people in every nook and corner of the state, and to make this happen, he said, all languishing PHE projects would be completed in a year.
Reviewing the performance of PHE department in Jammu division here at a meeting, he took stock of languishing projects, mostly water supply schemes.
The meeting was attended by chief engineer PHE Ashok Gandotra and other officers concerned of the department.
During the meeting, the commissioner secretary reviewed the practical and ground level implication of various central and state sponsored schemes along with financial progress.
The meeting was informed that 142 water supply schemes have been approved by a High Powered Committee recently, including the Rs 252.35 crore as balance cost. Besides, 112 additional projects are being submitted to the finance department involving Rs 161.70 crore as balance cost for their completion.
Shah directed the officers concerned to complete these schemes within one year and stressed upon them to conduct regular site visits to stay well versed with the ground level situation and impending issues of their departments. He instructed them to speed up the pace of work on all ongoing projects for their early completion. Dereliction of the duties will not be tolerated.
He said during this fiscal, the focus will be on installation of more hand pumps for wider coverage of small habitations. He also said that hand pumps must be installed judiciously.