Excelsior Correspondent
AKHNOOR, July 14: Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma today inaugurated Rs. 72 lakhs Lift Irrigation Scheme (LIS) at village Meeni in Akhnoor.
The LIS has been developed along Pouni Tawi having ultra modern pumping machinery and will benefit population of more than 200 souls. The scheme will irrigate over 60 hectares of land at village Meeni and other adjoining hamlets.
The Minister also laid foundation stone for construction of flood protection works in Kathar Tawi/Queer Nallah having project cost of Rs. 1006 lakhs. The project after completion will benefit villages including Choki Chora, Bain Laid, Chagyal, Latheri, Adgan, Phagal, Queer, Manowa, Kathar, Manoah and other villages.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that it is endeavour of the Government to provide better facilities to the people in every nook and corner of the State with special focus on the up-gradation of existing infrastructure. He said Government has been working under a well-knit programme to ensure all round development in all areas, especially in rural and far-flung areas.
Congratulating the people for the facility of irrigation, the Minister said that the facility will change the socio-economic profile of the people of this area. He said Government will explore possibilities to develop more such schemes to add more areas under the ambit of irrigation in the belt. He said as many as 19 LIS were taken up along the river Chenab and on some potential nallahs in Akhnoor and majority of them are at the completion stage. These schemes are aimed to create irrigation facilities in the dry belt which will bring prosperity in the area, said the Minister.
He said during the past one decade several PHE schemes have been developed in Akhnoor block and large numbers of villages have been covered with potable drinking water. He said efforts are afoot to provide safe drinking water to all uncovered areas, particularly in the hilly belt of Akhnoor. He asked the people to make judicious use of water and conserve the water resources.
Chief Engineer, Irrigation & Flood Control, H. C. Jeerat, Chief Engineer PHE Sushil Aima, Prominent locals, Sarpanches, Panches and a large number of local people were present on the occasion.
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