Irrigation and Public Health Minister Ravinder Ravi said that State Government is considering to create a separate Irrigaton Zone headed by a Chief Engineer to monitor and implement various irrigation schemes that will accelerate pace of development. He said that various aspects of the proposal are being examined. He said that Rs 27 crore has been allocated to augment various schemes which were damaged due to heavy rains under National Rural Drinking Water Programme. He emphasized upon ensuring effective functioning of treatment plans on all drinking water supply schemes so that safe drinking water could be provided to all the people of the state.
Minister said that annual action plan for the current financial year indicating division wise schemes for achieving targets under various schemes has been prepared. He said that a target of covering 2500 habitations under rural water supply has been fixed and added that Nahan Town Water Supply Scheme will implement under the urban water supply scheme. 6864 hectares land under major and medium irrigation schemes, 3177.35 hectares under minor irrigation schemes and 3306.12 hectare land will bring under flood protection during the current financial year. 5000 habitations are covered under rural water supply by spending Rs. 14657.29 lakh and added that 3502.71 hectares area is covered under major and medium irrigation schemes by spending Rs 6238.32 lakh during the previous financial year. He said that 3211.04 hectare area was brought under minor irrigation schemes whereas 2684 hectare area was brought under flood protection by spending Rs 12080.84 lakh and Rs 12421.75 lakh respectively.
Irrigation and Public Health Minister further said that 826 schemes were implemented under MNREGA in the entire state by spending Rs 3115.53 lakh out of which 23 schemes were implemented in Rohroo , 45 in Shimla, 175 in Nahan, 31 each in Reckong Peo and Bilaspur,81 in Una, 146 in Hamirpur, 183 in Sundernagar, 34 in Kullu, 32 in Nurpur, 23 in Dharamsala and 22 in Chamba circles during the previous financial year. He said that Rs 749 lakh had been allocated under Jalmani programme and 640 schools have been covered so far.
The minister directed the officers of the department to achieve the targets within the fixed timeframe and added that budget assurances of Chief Minister should be implemented seriously. He said that indifferent attitude towards work would be viewed seriously and action would be taken against the offenders. He asked the officers to serve the people sincerely so that benefits of schemes could percolate down to the grass-root level. He added that field officers were the face of the State Government and played a significant role in implementing the policies and programmes.
