JAMMU, January 03,2026 :- Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment, and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, today chaired a high-level meeting to review the progress of Public Health Engineering (PHE), Irrigation, and Forest sector works in the Kalakote–Sunderbani constituency.
Attended by MLA Thakur Randhir Singh and senior departmental heads, the meeting focused on removing infrastructural bottlenecks and accelerating the delivery of essential services.
Rana issued strict directives to conduct a technical audit of non-functional machinery and incomplete water supply schemes, demanding time-bound corrective actions to restore functionality.
A major highlight was the Minister’s instruction to revive defunct dug wells in water-scarce zones to augment local resources and ensure sustainable water supply.
During the session, the Minister assessed the status of the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and ongoing NABARD-funded irrigation projects. He emphasized the government’s commitment to providing “Har Ghar Jal” and directed officers to expedite flood protection works to safeguard vulnerable areas before the monsoon.
In the forest sector, the development of the Nagar Van at Sialsui and activities under the Green India Mission were reviewed, with Rana ordering a crackdown on fresh encroachments and a push for soil conservation measures.
Concluding the meet, the Minister reiterated that the Omar Abdullah administration prioritizes the inclusive development of tribal communities, urging officials to ensure transparent and people-centric implementation of all welfare schemes to improve the quality of life in the border belt.
