“16.5 lacs of Households to be provided functional tap connection by December end.”
Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta today took a detailed review of progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission in the UT of J&K. The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra along with Mission Director, JJM, Chief Engineers of Jal Shakti Jammu/Kashmir besides other senior officers of the department.
Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Jeevan Mission apprised that J&K stands at the top among UTs and 3rd overall in the country with respect to Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance with 1.7 lakh test conducted through a network of 98 water testing labs and 32000 women having being trained for use of Field Test Kits for water quality testing so far.
He also stated that a total of Rs. 2100 crores stand spent on Jal Jeevan Mission in the current financial year with transparency, accountability being fostered through disclosure of real-time status of physical and financial progress available on the JJM-IMIS portal of GoI, disclosure of details of release of UT funds available on the Janbhagidari Portal and disclosure of details of allotments of works under various scheme under JJM available on the departmental website of respective Chief Engineers besides various robust interventions like monitoring through District level Project Management Units (DPMUs), Consultants and Third Party Inspection Agencies (TPIAs).
During the review, Dr. Mehta observed that the public involvement through Pani Samitis is key tool for real-time feedback of the work and to create a sense of public ownership of these works. In view of the onset of winter in the Kashmir division, the Chief Secretary directed carrying out work on war-footing and to innovate to ensure that works are completed before peak winters. He enjoined upon all present to ensure that timelines are not breached and works are completed within the timelines set for completion.
Also, the Chief Secretary observed that the upcoming visits of Prabhari Officers during the upcoming 5th Phase of Back to Village Program presents a great opportunity to review the ongoing/completed scheme under JJM and accordingly, issued directions that the same be made one of a focus areas in this edition of Back to Village Program.
