KATHUA, Dec 03:Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sukhnandan Kumar today inaugurated a Water Supply Scheme at Kardooh in Bani.The project was taken up under the National Rural Drinking Water Programme which will benefit nearly 513 souls of Kardhoo , Searah and its adjoining areas.
While addressing the gathering, the Minister said that it’s the endeavor of the state government to ensure equitable development of the state for which several development plans have been chalked out to provide basic amenities to the people at their door step.The objective of PHE department is to provide clean drinking water to each and every household with special focus on far flung and remote areas, he added. He further said that more schemes will be launched in these areas to mitigate the water scarcity problem.
MLA Bani Jeewan Lal raised the demand of saving fertile and cultivable land from floods and informed the minister that several projects have been submitted in the department of flood control to stop soil erosion.
MLA further demanded to restore the Phandaar – Kharwah - Talanghar irrigation canal to give maximum benefit to the farmers as it is their long pending demand and will ultimately solve the irrigation problem. Jeewan Lal further explained that Dhaggar , Kanthal , Kharwah and Lohang areas have natural beauty in abundance and can be explored for tourism .
Minister after hearing the problems reiterated the commitment of the Government to provide clean and safe drinking water to people and ensured that steps are afoot to augment water supply in all these areas.Later the minister laid foundation stone of Water Testing Laboratory at Bani which will be completed at an estimated cost of Rs 10.18 lakhs.
On this occasion MLA Jeewan Lal while highlighting the problems of the people informed that the water scarce areas like Tanekhi , Jandeyah and Sarpathi needs to be covered under new water supply schemes.He further said that Bani is blessed with magnificent and natural landscapes and needs proper tourism infrastructure to tap the tourist potential. To solve the problem of water deficiency in this area MLA said that few water supply schemes are in pipeline for which detail project reports were submitted which need to be further paced up for execution.
Panch , Sarpanch and locals highlighted the problem of shortage of school staff , roads , availability of timber , crates and demanded water filtration plant.While speaking the minister informed that government is stressing on strengthen the PHE infrastructure to cover more water deficient areas . He said presently 20 water supply schemes were taken up out of which 5 schemes shall be completed within the end of this financial year.
He called upon the need to install plastic water tanks at accessible community points keeping in mind the nature of scattered population of Bani. The minister assured that the remaining funding of 16.5 lakhs for water supply scheme Durungal will be made available in the current financial year for the completion of this scheme and toilets made under Nirmal Bharat Abhiyan will be provided with PHE connections.Highlighting the importance of water testing lab the minister informed that this facility will ensure safe and hygienic water for the people of Bani.
He said that roads are vital for development and the government is committed to connect the remotest parts of Bani with the existing road network under CRF which will further improve the economical and social condition of the people living in far flung areas. He further ensured the people of Bani that to stop soil erosion and to save the fertile land crates will be constructed under MGNREGA and assured them that ongoing schemes will be completed on priority basis before starting work on new schemes.Minister also directed the SE PHE to explore the possibility of tapping the potential of Phandaar canal for irrigation as well as drinking purposes.
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