JAMMU, JULY 11: Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology, Environment, and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, chaired a comprehensive review meeting at the Civil Secretariat today to evaluate the performance and progress of the Public Health Engineering (PHE) and Irrigation & Flood Control (I&FC) departments across the Jammu Division.
Attended by top department officials, including Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers, and Executive Engineers, the meeting focused on the physical and financial milestones of various developmental schemes such as PMKSY-HKKP, UT CAPEX, NABARD, SASCI, and DA-JGUA. Minister Rana issued strict directives to ensure uninterrupted water supply, full-capacity operation of existing water infrastructure, and the swift completion of upcoming Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) schemes, warning that any lapses in drinking water availability would result in immediate accountability.
Additionally, he reviewed the region’s monsoon and flood preparedness, emphasizing the deployment of standby dewatering pumps and generators at strategic locations, the implementation of technology-driven early warning systems, and the strict monitoring of water source discharge rates.
The Minister also evaluated long-term infrastructure projects, including the proposed Rs 998.75 crore Extension, Renovation, and Modernisation (ERM) of the Main Ranbir Canal currently under Central Water Commission appraisal, canal desilting coordination with the Rural Development Department, and the ongoing restoration work on the Tawi Barrage project, where all barrage gates are now fully installed and functional.