CM Omar Abdullah Reviews Implementation of Jal Shakti Department Schemes

CM Omar Abdullah Reviews Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) Progress in Jammu and Kashmir

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chaired a review meeting of the Jal Shakti Department at the Civil Secretariat, focusing on the implementation and progress of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) in Jammu and Kashmir. The meeting, attended by key ministers and senior officials, aimed to evaluate the achievements, challenges, and future steps to ensure the mission’s success.

Key Highlights from the Review Meeting:

Progress Achieved Under JJM:

• 81% of households across Jammu and Kashmir now have access to tap water supply.
• The mission targets providing 55 litres per capita per day (lpcd) of clean drinking water that adheres to BIS 10500 standards.
• The adoption of alternative designs and detailed technical scrutiny of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) has resulted in significant cost savings of ₹522 crore.
• The mission encompasses 3,253 schemes aimed at establishing a sustainable water supply system in the region.

Challenges Identified:

• Low tender responses from contractors.
• Delays in the supply of critical materials such as Galvanized Iron (GI) pipes in Jammu and Ductile Iron (DI)pipes in Kashmir.
• Incidences of dry bore wells in several districts.
• Electro-mechanical issues hampering timely project execution.
• Improper laying of water supply pipes above ground, affecting the sustainability of water resources.

Steps to Address Challenges:

1. District Project Management Units (DPMUs) have been established to monitor progress and ensure quality.
2. Third-party monitoring mechanisms will be strengthened to enhance transparency and accountability.
3. Complaints from specific regions will be addressed promptly by engaging monitoring agencies for faster resolution.
4. Focus on strengthening Pani Samities at the Panchayat level for water quality monitoring and surveillance.
5. Regular interaction with Ministers and MLAs to define roles in improving the effectiveness of water management committees.

Future Measures:

• Expansion of the Nal Jal Mitra Programme to ensure better operation and maintenance of rural water supply systems.
• Introduction of e-billing systems to improve operational efficiency.
• Addressing manpower shortages within the department to enhance service delivery.
• Continuous technical reviews and innovation to overcome implementation hurdles.

CM’s Directives and Vision:

The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of a robust monitoring system and transparency in achieving the mission’s objectives. He stressed the need for sustainability in water resources and ensuring that complaints are resolved swiftly to maintain public confidence.

While expressing satisfaction with the progress, Omar Abdullah reiterated the government’s full support for the mission and urged stakeholders to sustain momentum. He highlighted the mission’s ultimate goal of ensuring clean, reliable drinking water for every household in Jammu and Kashmir.