Centre approves 130 water projects in J&K

The Centre has approved 130 water projects catering to 5.36 lakh hectares in Jammu and Kashmir, a spokesman said today.
"As many as 130 projects covering 364 micro water sheds catering to 5.36 lakh hectares have been approved by the Centre with a total cost of Rs 804.16 crore for three batches starting from 2011-12 for the state under Integrated Water Management Programme (IWMP)," the spokesman said.
The information was given at a review meeting of the IWMP convened under the chairmanship of state Rural Development Minister Ali Mohammad Sagar here yesterday, he said.
The minister directed officials to speed up the implementation of the programme which has a huge potential of ensuring the conservation of water, besides undertaking other related activities, the spokesman said.

"The officers should maintain a close liaison with each other so that the pace of implementation of the scheme is speeded up," he said.
Regular review meetings should be conducted which would go a long way in getting the required feedback from the ground level regarding the status of implementation as well as the impact of the scheme, the minister said.

Sagar also issued directions for the preparation of regular DPRs so that an effective implementation of the programme can be ensured.
"We have to ensure that the funds earmarked for different projects catering to wide areas of activities are effectively utilized," he said.

At the meeting, it was informed that the state-level nodal agency of IWMP has taken up 488 entry points for water, out of which 116 have been completed.
The works have been taken all across the state even in remote areas of Leh, Kargil, Poonch, Doda and Kishtwar as well, the spokesman said.