Rana inaugurates Rest House, lays foundation stone for ₹1.86 cr Water Supply Augmentation Scheme

Poonch| Sept. 12: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, Saturday inaugurated the newly constructed Rest House at JaranWaliGali and laid the foundation stone for a major Water Supply Augmentation Scheme aimed at strengthening the drinking water infrastructure in the area.
The Minister was accompanied by MLA Surankote, Choudhary Mohammad Akram along with senior officers and officials of the concerned departments.
The newly constructed Rest House, completed at a cost of ₹45 lakh under UT CAPEX 2025-26, marks an important addition to the field infrastructure in the challenging area. The facility is expected to provide essential support to the departmental officers and field staff, enabling them to undertake field visits, inspections and monitoring of developmental works more efficiently.
The Rest House will also facilitate better coordination among the field functionaries and contribute towards strengthening the government’s administrative outreach in remote and difficult-to-access areas.
The Minister appreciated the efforts of the concerned departments in completing the facility and stressed the importance of creating adequate infrastructure for personnel working in far-flung areas.
On the occasion, the Minister also laid the foundation stone for the ₹185.58 lakh Water Supply Augmentation Scheme at JaranWaliGali. The scheme is aimed at augmenting the existing drinking water infrastructure and improving the availability, adequacy and reliability of potable water in the area. The project, once completed, will benefit the residents of JaranWaliGali and adjoining habitations, augmenting their drinking water requirements and strengthening the local water supply network.
Later, the Minister laid the foundation stone for the PMGSY road connectivity project from Sanghiote Road to HattanFerozalan, covering 4.702 km. The project will provide all-weather connectivity to remote habitations, easing the movement of residents and improving access to healthcare, education, markets and other essential services.
The Minister said that it will strengthen the local connectivity and support socio-economic development in the hilly and far-flung areas of the region. He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensure equitable, inclusive and balanced development across the PirPanjal region, with special emphasis on remote and geographically challenging pockets.
The Minister said that strengthening basic infrastructure and ensuring reliable access to essential public services remain among the foremost priorities of the government. He emphasized the need for timely completion of ongoing and newly sanctioned projects while maintaining quality standards and ensuring optimal utilization of public funds.