Complete water projects in time, IPH officials told

Tribune News Service

Shimla, January 6

Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today directed the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) Department to ensure that all drinking water supply and irrigation projects are completed on time.

Presiding over a review meeting of the department here, he said 1,332 localities had been provided water during this financial year up to November 2015 against the target of 2,074. Similarly, 2,043 hectares had irrigation facility against the target of 3,500 hectares.

He said a detailed project report (DPR) amounting to Rs 220 lakh for Salli-Dairni-Rirkumar-Hathor Kuhal water supply project in Shahpur had been submitted to Nabard. The project for Police Lines, Dharamsala, had been completed at Rs 29.73 crore.

He said a DPR had been prepared for channelling of small rivers flowing into the Beas covering Ganu Mandwara, Marwari, Raipur, Babehar, Daulatpur, Dangoh Khas Dangoh Khurd, Joh, Pirthipur and Saloh Berri villages.

The Chief Minister directed a nodal officer to pursue the matter with Centre for releasing the remaining funds of various schemes.

He also directed officials to expedite the work on the channeling of the Pabbar in Shimla district, Chhounchh Khud in Kangra district, the Beas from Pulchan to Aut in Kullu and Seer Khud from Barchhwar to Jahoo in Sarkaghat.

He said the Centre had not released the Rs 107.80 crore second installment for the Swan channeling. The case had been submitted to the Central Water Commission, but the reimbursement of only Rs 9 crore had been released, he added.

He said a sewerage system would be extended to Manali rural areas for which DPR amounting to Rs 101 crore had been prepared. Stokes said a lift water scheme for Gharog Ghandal and Basantpur Kalvi Nadukhar villages was approved for Rs 105.53 crore.