Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 13: Minister for Public Health Engineering (PHE) Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Sukhnandan Kumar Choudhary today visited the breach site on Sindh Extension Canal at Rangil and took stock of the construction work taken up by the Irrigation Department at an estimated cost of Rs 1.30 crore.
Secretary, PHE, I&FC Parvaiz Malik, Chief Engineer PHE Ahmad Muzaffar Lankar, Chief Engineer, I&FC Javed Jaffar, Superintending Engineer Hydraulic Imtiyaz Ahmad Dhar, Executive Engineers, AEEs of various wings and senior officers accompanied the Minister during the visit.
The Minister was informed that due to incessant rains in March-April this year a 40 meter long breach occurred in Sindh Extension Canal near Rangil Water Treatment Plant which hampered water supply to the Srinagar city. He was informed that the department came into action swiftly and after procuring plastic pipes from LAWDA, made alternate arrangement within two days and ensured uninterrupted water supply to the Srinagar city.
The Minister inspected the breach site where the construction work is in progress. He directed the concerned authorities to complete the construction work within a week’s time positively so that water supply to Rangil Water Treatment Plant, besides requirements of water for irrigation facilities is restored fully. He directed concerned engineers and contractors to use quality material in the construction work and judicious utilization of funds provided for the purpose.
Mr. Sukhnandan instructed the Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control to undertake de-silting and other repairs of the canal so that uninterrupted water supply to people is ensured. He also instructed for desilting in Tulmulla-Kheer Bhawani Canal within a week’s time so that farmers do not face any difficulty while irrigating their farms during ensuing Kharief season.
Later, a deputation of contractors of Ganderbal district called on the Minister and appraised him about their problems including non payments on the works done under NABARD, SDRF and de-silting. The Minister assured them that their genuine demands would be taken up at appropriate fora.
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