Srinagar, Jul 27 (KNS): Saying that drinking water availability is, 2nd to none, essential service for human life, the Chairman, PDF and MLA, Khansaheb, Hakeem Mohammad Yasin has urged for bringing reforms on massive level in the overall functioning of the PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control department. He said, just like MLAs are answerable to public, the engineers and officers should also be accountable before the public representatives of the respective areas to bring in more efficiency in the administration for the cause of general public.
Speaking at the meeting of Estimates Committee of Legislative Assembly convened in the Legislature complex at Srinagar, Hakeem Yasin said that notwithstanding the fact that life without drinking water is impossible, the PHE department has failed to come up to the expectations of the people with regard to availability of adequate drinking water to them.
He lamented that despite spending thousands of crores of rupees during previous years, the department has failed to full meet the drinking water needs of the people, attributing this to the formulation of ill- conceived DPRs for water supply schemes.
He said need of the hour was to formulate DPRs for Water Supply Schemes on the basis of Perspective planning keeping in view the future population explosion and water requirements adding that each new WSS shall essentially have a dependable perennial water source with an in build component for water filtration.
“Contrary to this, in some cases, the department concerned is formulating new DPRs for areas which are already having better water supply there by ignoring the genuine water deficit areas,” Hakeem said while questioning the genesis of such DPRs.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
He said this is the mere wastage of public money which needs to be probed at a high level.
In this connection he cited a few instances in his Khansaheb constituency, where new DPRs for WSS at Mujpathri, Basantwudar, Watareheid and Shallanar have been prepared despite the fact these areas are already getting more than sufficient drinking water supply.
“Likewise, there are several water supply schemes in my constituency which are lying defunct for a quite long time which need to be made functional for the convenience of the people, “ Hakeem Yasin observed.
Hakeem Yasin made a strong plea for construction of an Impound Reservoir (IR) at Suchili Pathri which can provide drinking water supply to the people of about 100 villages in and around Khansaheb area adding that DPR in this regard stands already formulated about 4 years ago.
He also sought approval of the Government for construction of more Tube wells in water deficit habitations in his constituency. He also called for a focussed attention towards Tribal population to improve their livelihood adding that the grants meant for tribal people should not be diverted in any case.
Hakeem also urged for a transparent transfer policy in the department and urged for posting of competent engineers against vacancies lying in various engineering divisions. He also demanded to black list all those contractors who fail to fulfil their targets so that people are not put to in convenience for their fault. He urged for infusing accountability in stores and procurement wing of the PHE, department. (KNS)