Srinagar, Jan 16: The installation of water meters in Srinagar district is set to commence this year, with the process beginning from commercial establishments in the first phase.
Speaking to Rising Kashmir, Chief Engineer (CE) of the Jal Shakti (PHE) department, Kashmir, Braham Jyoti Sharma said the tendering for the project has already been started.
“The initiative aims to promote judicious water usage and reduce wastage by accurately monitoring consumption,” Sharma said. “Installation of water meters is a crucial step toward sustainable water resource management. We are starting with commercial establishments of Srinagar this year and the process will gradually extend to residential areas.”
He said initially installation will start from the areas where water consumption is higher. “We are procuring the water meters and the installation process will start soon,” he said.
The move aligns with the government’s broader agenda of improving water supply systems and ensuring accountability in resource usage.
Officials in the Jal Shakti department also confirmed that the project is in the advanced planning stage, with tenders and procurement processes already underway. Public awareness campaigns are also being designed to educate citizens about the benefits of metered water usage.
The implementation of water meters has been a long-standing demand in Jammu and Kashmir, with experts citing it as a critical measure to tackle the water challenges. The focus on commercial establishments is seen as a pilot phase to ensure smooth execution before expanding the initiative further. Officials of the department said that the proposal to install water meters was introduced in 2020 but the same got stuck in technical hitches. “All ground work has been done and the plan is in the final stage. Tendering may take a few months and by then the procurement of water meters will also be completed. So, we are ready to go,” he said.
