Ladakh to promote solar-based irrigation pumps
Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, May, 25: Commissioner Secretary, Public Health Engineering/Irrigation & Flood Control, Ajeet Kumar Sahu today reviewed the progress on the works under the Irrigation and Flood Control Department in the UT Ladakh. Commissioner Secretary also reviewed the Central Sector Schemes of AIBP and FMP.
After the direction from the LG, RK Mathur, the Irrigation & Flood Control Department is implementing a scheme to provide solar-based irrigation pumps for irrigation facility in identified drought-prone areas. Chief Engineer, IFC Ladakh informed that both the districts have started the process of procurement of pumps and these would be installed in identified areas in the next four months. This scheme is based on a successful pilot done by Ladakh Administration last year.
Besides, the department is also working on mobile pumps to lift the river water for irrigation purposes which would be the first of its kind and provide immediate irrigation facility without the need of creating much civil infrastructure. Commissioner Secretary asked the Chief Engineer to ensure the scheme is implemented on time.
Another major project concerning the irrigation sector under review was the Rs. 53.32 cr Parkachik project in Kargil with a command area of 2262 hectares. It has a tunnel of around 900 meters out of which work is completed for around 550 meters. The work on both sides of the tunnel has started and expected to be completed by September 2021.
Sahu also directed the engineers to send the budget proposals /UCs under AIBP/FMP for the year 2021-22 without any further delay and also to prepare additional project proposals for funding under AIBP so that the maximum area can be brought under Irrigation. He directed the officials of both the districts to hire a consultant to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) as per the AIBP guidelines. He directed the engineers to submit the proposal for the storage project. It was informed that a tender has already been floated to hire experts to prepare DPRs for new projects.
Commissioner Secretary directed the Chief Engineer to also ensure that all the schemes are audited in time by the AG auditors and their observations are replied to expeditiously.
The meeting was attended by Er Fareed Chaudhary, Chief Engineer, PHE/I&FC Department; Superintending Engineer, Kargil; Executive Engineer, I&FC Leh and Executive Engineer, I&FC, Kargil besides other departmental officers.
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