Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday announced that there would be no hike in electricity charges for farmers this year.
Referring to the issue of farmers being forced to use pumps due to inadequate canal irrigation, the Chief Minister said unauthorised electricity connections for irrigation would not be disconnected and instead regularised as non-metered connections.
Chairing a high-level meeting to review the overall development scenario of Jammu district, with a focus on expediting key infrastructure projects, improving irrigation facilities, strengthening flood restoration works and ensuring optimal utilisation of funds, the Chief Minister gave directions for early completion of development works taken up under capital expenditure strictly as per availability of funds.
He assured the MLAs that each of them would receive a detailed communication outlining the status of projects that can be taken up, those that could not be initiated so far, the reasons thereof, and the future roadmap.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Ministers Sakina Itoo, Javed Ahmad Rana, Javid Ahmed Dar and Satish Sharma, Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani and others.
“It should not happen that you feel a project has been taken on priority and then put on a back burner.
You will receive a letter explaining what we are doing, what we have done and what we intend to do in future, so that everyone is kept in the picture,” the Chief Minister said.
On irrigation, the Chief Minister emphasised the need for a comprehensive ground-level inspection, particularly of the tail-end areas of canals, to ensure proper de-silting and equitable water distribution to farmers. He directed the Minister concerned to prepare a timetable and conduct on-site inspections along with the local MLAs.
Recalling past challenges, the Chief Minister said that farmers at the tail end of canals often suffered due to lack of de-silting, which prevented water from reaching them when it was most needed.
He stressed the need to take up de-silting work in convergence with MGNREGA wherever feasible, so that labour costs are met under MGNREGA while material and machinery costs are borne by the department.
Directing the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, the Chief Minister called for maximum utilisation of funds in the remaining months of the financial year. He complimented the district administration for good performance and better-than-expected fund utilisation so far.
He stressed the need for close monitoring of SASCI projects, especially green-field projects, to ensure timely fund utilisation and avoid additional financial burden under CAPEX.
He also directed that MLAs be taken into confidence while organising Mission Yuva events in their constituencies to build momentum for employment generation initiatives.
Highlighting that more than ₹1400 crore has been sanctioned for permanent flood restoration works, the Chief Minister instructed that the share allocated to the Jammu district must be utilised judiciously to ensure durable and long-term solutions.
“The water levels we are seeing now are similar to those witnessed in 2014. Our restoration works must be planned keeping that in mind so that the assets created are not washed away during the next heavy rains.
Restoration must be permanent, not temporary,” he asserted.
The Chief Minister complimented the district administration and the elected representatives for their collective efforts.
During the meeting, the Ministers concerned also made interventions related to their respective departments and issued on-the-spot directions to the officers for prompt redressal of issues.
Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, gave a detailed presentation on the financial and physical progress of various departments.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister laid e-foundation stones of housing and urban development projects worth ₹13.48 crore and e-inaugurated projects related to school education, housing and urban development and rural development amounting to ₹19.05 crore.
He later also flagged off a truck-mounted jetting-cum-sewer suction machine (6000 litres), truck-mounted jetting-cum-sewer suction machines (4000 litres), jetting, grabbing and rodding machines (3000 litres) and open nallah desilting machines mounted on a tipper chasis with an extendable crane.
An ambulance for CHC Pallanwalla was also flagged off on the occasion.
