Mission Director, Jal Jeevan Mission, Jammu & Kashmir, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, chaired an officers meeting to review progress on providing piped water supply to schools and Anganwadi Centers of the Union territory under Jal Jeevan Mission.
Chief Engineers, Jal Shakti (PHE), Jammu and Kashmir besides Superintending Engineers of Hydraulic circles of all districts and other district level officers of the department attended the meeting.
The Chief Engineers presented progress achieved, so far, in their respective jurisdictions with an overall coverage of 90 per cent in schools and 88 per cent in Anganwadis of the UT. It was informed that out of a total number of 22562 schools in rural areas of the UT, 20245 have been connected with piped water supply.
Regarding piped water coverage in schools, it was informed that four districts have achieved 100 per cent coverage, eight districts have achieved above 90 per cent targets with only two districts achieving targets below 80 per cent.
The officers assured that the target of 100 per cent coverage will be achieved in low coverage districts within next few months. It was apprised that the field engineers had to face problems in far flung areas which remain inaccessible to development works during winters due to heavy snowfall.
It was also informed that out of 24149 Anganwadi centres, 21177 have been provided with piped water supply clocking 88 per cent average coverage. Besides, two districts have achieved 100 per cent coverage, eight districts above 90 per cent and the rest hovering around 80-90 per cent.
Mission Director set deadline for the officers to achieve 100 per cent targets and supply piped water to the remaining schools and Anganwadis adhering to strict timelines in this regard. He also emphasised the need of providing safe water free from biological and other contaminants as per water BIS 10500 standards.
Mission Director also reviewed progress on aspirational districts of the UT in terms of tendering and awarding of contracts. He directed the officers to speed up the tendering process so that the works for retrofitting of old schemes to increase the delivery levels as per JJM guidelines are executed well in time.
He gave instructions for executing new schemes to provide functional house hold tap connections to the remaining households in order to fulfil the promise of Prime Minister for providing Household tap connections to each house hold in the country by 2024.
He also directed the field level officers to provide tap water connections to remaining Panchayat Ghars and keep a close liaison with Village Water and Sanitation Committees ( VWSC’s) which have been empowered in planning and execution of water related infrastructure in the targeted villages.
Mission Director asked the Technical Advisors of Mission Directorate to clear the files and submissions received from Jal Shakti (PHE) Chief Engineers within 24 hours for maintaining the pace of works.
