Jammu : Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology, Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana Saturday chaired a comprehensive review meeting at the Civil Secretariat here to assess the functioning of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC) departments across Jammu Division.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Engineer PHE Jammu, Chief Engineer I&FC Jammu, besides Superintending Engineers and Executive Engineers of Flood Control Divisions.
Minister Javed Rana reviewed the physical and financial progress of major water and flood management schemes across the Jammu division, including PMKSY-HKKP, UT CAPEX, NABARD, SASCI, and DA-JGUA. Emphasizing uninterrupted drinking water supply as a top government prerogative, he directed the Jal Shakti department to complete all ongoing schemes—especially those under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)—within their strict deadlines to prevent any lapses in public availability. He ordered efficient tanker deployment, regular preventive maintenance, daily monitoring of groundwater and source discharge rates, and weekly review meetings to maintain strict operational oversight.
To address flood preparedness, the Minister was briefed by the Chief Engineer, Jal Shakti (I&FC), on contingency plans, including the prepositioning of standby dewatering pumps, generators, and spare parts at strategic locations. Rana called for a mix of structural and non-structural mitigation measures, tech-driven early warning systems, and robust inter-agency coordination based on the newly circulated district anti-flood response plans. He specifically ordered the expedited execution of the SASCI Disaster Programme in flood-prone areas and directed that all future Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) be technically and financially comprehensive to avoid cost overruns.
Additionally, the Minister reviewed a ₹998.75 crore Extension, Renovation, and Modernisation (ERM) proposal for the Main Ranbir Canal, currently submitted to the Central Water Commission, which aims to improve tail-end water availability over a five-year period. He also assessed ongoing canal desilting efforts being executed in convergence with the Rural Development Department, warning officials to keep a strict vigil against equipment theft. Finally, Rana took stock of the Tawi Barrage project, noting that while gate installation and hydro-mechanical works are fully complete, restoration and reinforcement works are actively progressing to rectify past damages.
