J&K govt to focus on reviving traditional water sources

Jammu and Kashmir government is focusing on reviving the traditional water sources and checking dams for other uses to preserve drinking water in Jammu region.
"The government will lay focus on reviving the traditional sources of water like ponds, bowlies and check dams for other uses to save drinking water in Jammu," said Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control yesterday during the inauguration of Water Supply Scheme(WSS) at Buddhi Charayi village.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister said the coalition government has been making concerted efforts to develop sustainable basic infrastructure in the rural areas at par with urban areas under a well-knit programme.

Sham made an appeal to the people to make judicious use of water.
"Most of the rural areas in Jammu region are still dependent on the water supply of the bowlies (Springs) and ponds. These steps would be taken to overcome the scarcity of drinking water", he said.
Sharma said that deep drilling tube-wells will be dug after proper identification of deserving areas adding that state government will also explore possibilities of constructing irrigational tube-wells in the potential areas to give boost to the agriculture production in Akhnoor tehsil.
Minister also inaugurated a panchayat ghar building at village Ghaar during his two day tour of Akhnoor Tehsil.

For the last five and a half years, government has focused on the up-gradation of vital sectors like, PHE, Education, health, social welfare and roads which are key to transform the socio-economic conditions of the people, the Minister added.