JAMMU, Jan 14: Javed Ahmed Rana, Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, instructed officials on Tuesday to hasten the progress of Water Supply Schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission, while also promoting the acceleration of irrigation and flood control initiatives in Akhnoor.
During his visit to the Akhnoor constituency, the Minister assessed the performance of the Jal Shakti and Forest Departments.
Also in attendance were Minister for Sports, Satish Sharma, and local MLA Mohan Lal.
The Minister underscored the importance of completing water supply projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission on time, aiming to ensure tap water connections reach all rural households. He urged the authorities to expedite project execution and improve collaboration among the involved agencies, emphasizing the significance of maintaining quality throughout the process.
Asserting the necessity of hastening irrigation endeavors to boost agricultural water access, the Minister insisted that flood control projects must be finalized without undue delays. He highlighted the urgent need for all departmental projects to be completed within established timelines and warned against unnecessary hold-ups in the completion of essential tasks.
Acknowledging the government’s various initiatives for soil conservation in the Kalidhar Range, he called for intensified efforts, especially considering the challenges posed by climate change.
Rana urged the prioritization of soil conservation initiatives along the nallahs and emphasized the need for afforestation in the barren areas of the Kalidhar Range. He stated that these actions are vital for environmental sustainability and will combat soil erosion while promoting biodiversity.
He also advocated for enhanced community involvement to raise awareness regarding environmental and soil protection. He directed the officers to devise a strategy aimed at augmenting forest cover in the desolate lands of the Kalidhar Range through tree planting initiatives, which will provide not only livelihoods but also contribute to sustainable development and climate change mitigation.
During his visit to Akhnoor, locals presented memorandums and individual requests to the Minister, pressing for prompt resolution of their issues.
Community members brought up concerns related to the Jal Shakti, Irrigation & Flood Control, and Forest departments.
The Minister directed officers to collaborate with local MLAs when preparing DPRs for new projects and implementing government schemes in the region.
Additionally, Javed Rana emphasized the need to prioritize the restoration of non-functional hand pumps to prevent public inconvenience.
