Srinagar, Sept 13: Additional Chief Secretary Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra on Wednesday said that infrastructure is being built to meet the requirements for next 30 years and huge quantum of work is involved including laying of a vast pipe distribution network in the Union Territory.
Addressing the presser in DIPR Auditorium, he said that infrastructure is being built to meet the requirements for next 30 years and a huge quantum of work is involved including laying of a vast pipe distribution network.
He was flanked by Mission Director Jal Jeevan Mission, Dr GN Itoo; Director Information, Minga Sherpa and Chief Engineer Jal Shakti Kashmir, ACS said that the program shall be capable of providing drinking water at a minimum service level of 55 litres per person per day and its quality conforming to BIS 10500 Standards, regularly on a long term and sustainable basis
“In J&K, 3244 water supply schemes (including standalone schemes for Schools, Angawadi Centres, Health Institutions & Gram Panchayats) have been planned at an estimated cost of about Rs. 13000 crore to provide new and upgrade existing tap water connections of 18.67 lakh rural households for a sustainable, reliable and potable supply of drinking water to improve the living conditions of about 1.10 crore rural population,” he said.
ACS Kabra said like all other States and UTs of the country Jal Jeevan Mission—a flagship program of Govt of India is being implemented in the UT of J&K with an aim to connect each and every rural household with Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC).
He said most of these water supply schemes comprise of about 6600 components like source development in the shape of Bore-wells, tube-wells & dug-wells besides Rapid Sand Filtration Plants, Over Head Tanks, Slow Sand Filtration Plants, Ground Service Reservoirs and pipe laying works aimed to augment the existing water supply system and to provide the new tap water connections in uncovered areas.
“As on date about 97% of the critical work components have been awarded, all of them through a transparent e-tendering system involving about 1700 contractors. This is in contrast to 14% in June, 2022. Similarly, the start of work has also picked up from 6% in June, 2023 to 73% as on date thereby indicating that the implementation of the mission is in full swing all across the UT,” he said.
Talking about the financial powers, Kabra said that in strict compliance to the GFR 2017, they have been able to purchase 60% of the total pipe requirement as on date through complete e-tendering and scrutiny through a UT level purchase committee headed by Development Commissioner Works and with members across the departments like Finance, l&C, MED etc. which was less than 5 % in June, 2022.
“About 24 OEMs have been involved in supply of pipes through competitive tendering. While doing so, on the advice of the National Jal Jeevan Mission and in view of the difficulties being faced in timely supply of GI pipes, cost effective and technically feasible HDPE pipes are also being used, especially in Jammu province which has not only resulted in increase in supply rate but a saving of about Rs. 430.00 crore is expected in the overall estimated cost of the projects,” he informed.
“98 water testing laboratories have been set up, strengthened across the UT, and 11 of them have been accredited by NABL,for testing of water samples the reports of which are made available on the WQMIS portal which is in the public domain,” he added.
Kabra said in order to involve the communities in the surveillance of the water quality, the field testing Kits (FTKs) have been made available to Pani Samiti Members. As on date 7200 FTKs have been distributed and 32000 women have been trained for use of these FTKs, he said.
Also, he said to involve the communities in planning, monitoring & implementing the Jal Jeevan Mission in villages, Pani Samitis have been constituted in all the villages of the UT who are involved in monitoring of the works at village level and on the completion of these schemes. About 23000 meetings of Pani Samitis/ special Gram Sabhas/ Jan Sabhas have been held in connection with the planning and monitoring of JJM works besides Har Ghar Jal Certification of the villages where 100% FHTCs have been provided. As on 31st August, 3088.00 Crore has been expended since the start of the Mission, out of which Rs. 2600.00 Crore have been spent during the last 12 months.
The ACS informed that during the Current financial year, the UT has spent Rs. 1447.06 Crore and has been able to lift two tranches of funds amounting Rs. 1433.56 Crores from GoI.
He said that from last few weeks, some incorrect and malafide information has been propagated in respect of the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission in the UT of J&K and in this backdrop, it is imperative to make few points clear to the general public and to all the stakeholders:
“A scam of 13000 crore has been alleged when on the other hand it has been stated that only 800 Crore have been spent till August, 2023. But the public is being misled in both these aspects as neither any scam has taken place nor the figures given in respect of the expenditure are correct,” Kabra said.
He explained that total expenditure in JJM as on 31st August is Rs.3088.30 Crores and every allotment, contract has been awarded strictly following the process laid down in the GFR. Such allegations are complete nonsense and made by people who have no understanding,” Kabra said.
“All the works have been awarded through a transparent and competitive e-tendering system after accord of Administrative Approvals, Technical Sanctions (wherever required before tendering),” ACS said.
He said the schemes ongoing under different other heads are also being completed and an expenditure of about Rs. 210 Crore has been made under erstwhile NRDWP, NABARD and JKIDFC Schemes.
“All these schemes shall be completed within the mission period. Due diligence has improved execution of schemes under JKIDFC funding and a much less quantum is likely to be shifted from that estimated in June, 2022 — 459 schemes costing about Rs. 783.72 crores,” ACS Kabra said.
He said all the advisories received from the Anti-Corruption Bureau J&K have been circulated to the field officers including Deputy Commissioners for strict adherence and for corrective actions, if needed to be taken. None pointed out any malpractices or allotment of tenders without following due process, he said.
