MLAs voice concern over delay in completion of water supply schemes

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 24: MLAs today expressed concern over delay in completion of water supply schemes which were launched several years back and held the Government’s slackness responsible for curtailment in Central assistance under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP).
“It is a matter of serious concern that number of water supply schemes taken up for construction under NRDWP in Kathua constituency have not been completed till date”, BJP MLA from Kathua Rajeev Jasrotia said when the Minister Incharge PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Choudhary admitted on the floor of the House that water supply schemes under NRDWP could not be completed within time frame.
He, however, cited overall cut in the Central Share allocation in the recent years as the major reason behind the delay in completion of schemes.
Joining the issue, MLA from Udhampur Pawan Kumar Gupta said, “Rs 50 crore State share is grossly inadequate to ensure completion of water supply schemes, which have already missed several deadlines”, adding “these schemes were required to be completed within a period of two to three years”.
How long you will deprive the people of the water supply? he asked and stressed that the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh should take up the drastic cut in Central assistance under NRDWP with the Union Government so that adequate funds are arranged for completion of ongoing schemes.
Even Abdul Majid Larmi and Mushtaq Ahmad expressed concern over prolonged delay in completion of water supply schemes in their respective constituencies.
Though there was no response from the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, the Minister for PHE assured the MLAs that Government will take up the issue with the Centre and even try to manage more funds from the State’s own resources for completion of schemes.

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