J&K govt to put in place State Water policy

Jammu and Kashmir Minster for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Choudhary today said the government will place in place a State Water Policy and its draft has been put in the public domain for feedback.
The comprehensive study of morphology of Jhelum and Tawi has been started. For devising management and control measures to tackle floods, Early Warning System would be put in place in Jhelum, Tawi and Chenab, he said.
He also said the department is taking various initiatives to provide potable water to inaccessible areas of the state and special focus is being given to supplying water for irrigation to every agricultural field.

Winding up the discussion on demand of grants for the PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Department, Choudhary said the mandate of the department is to develop policies, programmes and practices for effective use of the state's water resources in an equitable and sustainable manner.
Under National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP), the government is focusing on ensuring drinking water security by adopting holistic approach through conjunctive use of surface, ground and rain water harvesting, he said
He also informed that 93 schemes are being executed in the state under LIC loan assistance while as under NABARD loan assistance, new water supply projects costing Rs 323.92 crore have been formulated and are in the process of sponsoring for NABARD funding.

"he Government has started construction of Activated Carbon Chamber for Water Treatment Plant at Pokhribal at an estimated cost of Rs 54 lakh," the minister said.

Listing out the steps taken by the department for improving water supply in Jammu city, the minister informed that Detailed Project Report (DPR) for "Augmentation of water supply to Jammu city from river Chenab Phase-I" amounting to Rs 624.52 crore has been forwarded to the Department of Economic Affairs of the Centre for funding under JICA.
The minister informed that Water Supply Schemes at Bhaderwah, Sunderbani, Anantnag and Sopore have been completed.
Under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), the state Government has framed District Irrigation Plans (Minor Irrigation) at an estimated cost of Rs 14,681.18 crore, the he said, adding, plans from 21 districts of the state have been forwarded to the Centre for funding under the scheme.