Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. PULWAMA: Deputy Commissioner Pulwama Kuldeep Krishan Sidha today chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the district’s Hydraulics Sector, assessing the functioning and progress of Irrigation Divisions Pulwama and Tral, PHE Divisions Pulwama and Awantipora, ICD Pampore, FCD Kakapora and other allied works.
Officers presented detailed updates on the physical and financial progress of schemes, irrigation infrastructure, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), UT Capex and other ongoing and proposed works.
During the review of the irrigation sector, the meeting was informed that Pulwama district has a geographical area of approximately 1.09 lakh hectares, a net sown area of 33,760 hectares and a total cropped area of 55,023 hectares under Kharif and Rabi crops. The net irrigated area is approximately 21,000 hectares—around 63 per cent of the cultivated command area—while the gross irrigated area stands at approximately 37,000 hectares. Around 12,000 hectares remain rain-fed.
The district’s major surface-water resources include the River Jhelum and the Rambiara, Wankran, Sasara, Romshi, Watal Ara, Aripal and Lar Nallahs.
The Deputy Commissioner stressed the need for scientific, evidence-based planning of irrigation and water-resource infrastructure. He directed the concerned officers to obtain an updated aquifer map from the Department of Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing. The mapping, he said, would help identify groundwater potential, water channels, perennial and rain-fed areas, and guide the planning of borewells, irrigation infrastructure and flood-control works.
He directed that proposals for the next financial year be prepared on the basis of aquifer mapping and proper ground-level assessment. Projects, he added, must reflect actual site requirements and future needs, with field assessments completed before their formulation and execution.
The review of the Jal Shakti/PHE sector focused on the Jal Jeevan Mission and Har Ghar Jal. Officers informed the meeting that 49,013 households had been taken up for coverage. The Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned officers to ensure 100 per cent tap-water coverage, complete pending certification and obtain regular feedback from field-level functionaries so that bottlenecks can be addressed promptly.
The meeting was also apprised of the requirement for five water tankers to support smooth water-supply arrangements. The Deputy Commissioner directed that the requirement be addressed on priority and assured that the District Administration would facilitate the provision of five tankers wherever required.
Delayed schemes, including the Lethpora scheme, were reviewed. The Deputy Commissioner directed the concerned authorities to resolve land, compensation and other bottlenecks on priority so that affected works can proceed without further delay.
The status of the Pulwama Town Water Supply Project and schemes funded under NABARD, UT Capex, District Capex and other heads was also reviewed. He called for timely execution, optimum use of resources and close monitoring of all ongoing works.
Directing departments to maintain close coordination, the Deputy Commissioner said schemes must not face avoidable procedural, land-related, technical or field-level delays. He stressed that sound planning, ground-level assessment and timely execution must go hand in hand.
He observed that lack of funds should not constrain projects where planning is sound and proposals are properly assessed. Officers were directed to prepare comprehensive, technically sound and need-based proposals.
The Deputy Commissioner also called for regular field-level monitoring, with particular attention to delayed works, groundwater sustainability, water quality, the functionality of existing infrastructure and the timely completion of ongoing projects.
The meeting was attended by ADDC Pulwama Gulzar Ahmad Bhat; CPO Pulwama Aashiq Khanday; SE, Hydraulics Circle Pulwama/Shopian; XENs of Irrigation Divisions Pulwama and Tral; PHE Divisions Pulwama and Awantipora; FCD Kakapora; ICD Pampore; MID Awantipora; PHE Mechanical Awantipora; and PHE Ground Water Drilling, Srinagar; and the Project Manager, DPMU Pulwama, besides other concerned officers and officials.
