Srinagar, Mar 17: The Jammu and Kashmir government said that Rd61.06 crore has been allocated for 20 water supply schemes under the Jal Jeevan Mission in Marh Constituency.
The government, in a written reply, said that out of the total allocation, Rs 19.65 crore has been utilized so far, with Rs 14.15 crore spent on procuring pipes. Of these, pipes worth Rs 12.79 crore have already been issued for use, while the remaining stock is kept in Central Stores. To ensure durability and efficiency, the government is using both Galvanized Iron (GI) and High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipes in these schemes, depending on technical feasibility.
The decision follows the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation (CPHEEO) Manual and advisories issued by the National Jal Jeevan Mission in April 2022 and again in May 2023, which recommend the use of HDPE pipes over GI pipes due to cost-effectiveness. However, the UT government has opposed the use of HDPE pipes in plain areas, citing technical reasons.
In addition to infrastructure development, several new water sources have been created to strengthen the water supply network in Marh Constituency. According to official data, tube wells have been drilled at multiple locations, including Chak Dhatriyal Dina, Makwal Malkey Chak, Gandu Chak, and Nagbani, with capacities ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 GPH (gallons per hour). Work is still in progress at Chak Dali Old.
The physical and financial progress of these 20 schemes varies across different locations. Some projects, such as Bhrambli, Ismailpur, Phalora Harmankund, Khandwal, Mandal Phallian, Jawalapur, and Chak Dali, have been fully completed and are now functional. Meanwhile, other projects like Sarora, Chak Dina Dhatriyal, Sangrampur Parwah, Seri Rakhwalan, and Nagbani are at various stages of execution, with completion rates ranging between 60% and 95%.
Among the schemes, Jaswan Water Supply Scheme is the largest in terms of investment, with an estimated cost of Rs 9.79 crore, of which Rs 3.43 crore has already been spent, covering 76% of the project.
Another scheme, Gajansoo Water Supply Scheme, has been allocated Rs 7.05 crore, with Rs 2.81 crore utilized, achieving 85% completion.
The government assured that all efforts are being made to complete the remaining projects on time, ensuring improved access to clean drinking water for thousands of households in Marh Constituency.
