Details

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 06 August 2015

• Stresses on intensive rainwater harvesting under IWMP

JAMMU: Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Abdul Haq Khan today said that coalition government headed by Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is committed to provide better infrastructural facilities to the people across the State and several initiatives have been taken in this direction. The Minister was addressing locals after launching plantation drive under Integrated Watershed Management Programme (IWMP) here at village Raja chak near Government Primary School Sarian, Akhnoor.

Director Rural Development, Jammu M L Raina, SDM Akhnoor, BDO Akhnoor, Project Officer, IWMP, District Technical Expert, Agri Expert, other senior officers of Rural Development Department, besides Sarpanches, Panches, and prominent persons were present on the occasion. The plantation drive has been launched under the IWMP-IV 2012-13, Sumah-Bomal project, Akhnoor Block. The IWMP Project for Akhnoor Block has been sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 9.12 crore to cover an area of nearly 6085 hectare in five Panchayats including Raja Chak, Paingairi, Bandral khurd, Bomal and Kaink Jagir.

Abdul Haq enjoined upon the Panchayat representatives to extend their whole hearted support to achieve the objectives of the project. He also exhorted upon the officers to work in close coordination to facilitate the execution of the project works in a convergence mode dovetailing MGNERGA and other schemes.

Laying emphasis on the Clean and Green Mission, the Minister said that a statewide campaign has already been launched under the title “Mera Gaon Mera Jahan” to sensitize general masses about cleanliness of individual households as well as village surroundings in a mission mode. Under the mission, different activities will be undertaken with the involvement of various stakeholders. He also appealed the people to shun use of polythene in rural as well as urban areas due to its hazardous effects.

Mr Khan informed that Rs 120 crore have been released to clear the pending liabilities under MGNREGA. He called upon the officers to ensure that wages in lieu of work done are paid to the Job seekers in time and in a transparent manner. The Minister maintained that the Rural Development Department will focus on creation of durable assets under various schemes in the rural areas. He said schemes can be dovetailed with MGNREGA works to make best use of funds and create durable assets in the rural areas.

He said that rainwater harvesting, the major component of the project, was vital to arrest the groundwater decline, conserve surface water run-off during monsoon, and reduce soil erosion and to inculcate the culture of water conservation. He said the need of the hour was to revive all the existing water harvesting structures and propose new structures at suitable sites where maximum storage capacity can be created with minimum financial involvement.