CM reviews Rs 195-cr flood protection works on Chenab

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 24

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday visited Akhnoor and Jorian and took a review of the pace of ongoing work on the flood protection works on the banks of the Chenab.

She visited Sangrampora, Mairra and Gair villages to personally inspect the bundhs and other protection structures being raised on the banks of the Chenab.

Mehbooba was informed that the flood protection works form a part of the Rs 195-crore comprehensive project covering 54 works on the river in the area. She was also informed that with the completion of these protection works, the people living on the banks of the river will be saved from floods and some 15,000 kanals of land would also be retrieved annually, which was usually washed away in floods.

The Chief Minister was informed that 60 per cent of the protection works at Sangrampora stood completed while work on the rest was apace. She was also informed that works of similar nature were underway at Manchak, Bakore, Manhasan, Gurah, Mairra, Gair and other villages. She inspected the protection works at Mairra and visited the entire 500-m strip of protection bundh at Gair village, which is being raised on the right bank of the river.

Mehbooba instructed the completion of works on these spots at the earliest keeping in view the coming season of floods. She specifically directed the undertaking plantation drive in these critical flood zones to arrest the soil erosion and prevent washing away of soil.

Meanwhile, several deputations met the Chief Minister and apprised her of their problems and sought their redressal.

At Gair village, people demanded speeding up of work on the Paragwal bridge while at Mairra village, people demanded compensation for their lands as per the Girdawari status. At Kote Garhi, the villagers demanded starting of a bus service and construction of a 2.50-km Kote Garhi to Sangrampur road.

The Chief Minister directed the Divisional and Deputy Commissioners to look into the issues raised by people and redress them at the earliest.