Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 22: While lauding State Government’s efforts in giving major push to development of infrastructure through sanction of various projects in the state, the Citizens’ Forum Jammu has demanded implementation of Akshay Patra Foundation Mid-Day Meal scheme in this State as initiated by many other states.
Forum also demanded completion of the project of supply of Chenab river water for Jammu city.
In a press statement issued here today, president of the Forum RK Chadha said, “Change in the Mid-Day Meal project for better service and food to children was a long time demand of Forum which was never accepted by any Government.”
He said, “Under the Akshay-Patra Foundation Mid-Day Meal scheme implemented by many states in the country, NGO provide mid-day meal to 1.76 million school children in India with standard scientifically prepared food at a very low price. This should also be implemented in J&K schools as children here also deserve nutritious food.
Citizen’s Forum also demanded the project of supply of Chenab river water for Jammu City be finally completed. Forum has been raising this demand since 1994 and Neeri Nagpur had prepared viable project of Rs 220 crores to bring water first filtered at river bank, brought to Janipur by gravity and then supplied to Jammu city by gravity, with no additional costs. Funds were available but being Jammu project it was shelved.
“The project was changed for personal benefits by some leaders to bring water first to Muthi, filtered and then pumped up to Janipur and then supplied to city by gravity incurring recurring expenditure in the process. Project cost was hiked and revised to Rs 1000 crores. We requested IMF to cancel the funds”, Chadha added.
He said that Forum members who are retired Chief Engineers have worked on this project, its filtration process at River bank without any huge permanent daily expenditure and bring it to upper areas of Janipur and to Jammu city by gravity. This will remove scarcity of water permanently for Jammu city.
Addl DGP {Retd} SS Wazir, Former PSC Member Dr (Mrs) R Madan, Arun Gupta Chairman MIER, (Educationist) Arun Sharma Retd Chief Engineer, R K Handa Retd Vice Chairman JDA, MS Kapoor Retd Engineer, Ashok Parihar Advocate High Court and others were among signatories to the statement.
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