Bring multipurpose projects to address summer water woes: Rattan Lal urges LG

JAMMU, February 21: Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) has demanded that the Union Territory Administration led by the Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha should bring meticulously formulated composite and multipurpose projects in order to address the water crises that every year hit Jammu, Kathua and Samba regions of Jammu Province.

In a statement issued here today, the senior National Conference leader asserted that coming up with stop gap arrangements or temporary solutions does not address the root cause of the issue as a result of which the issue crops up again in the next season to be addressed again by adopting temporary measures. Moreover, it also involves huge expenditure every year, he added. 

The NC Provincial President Jammu said that in such a situation it is only the consolidated projects that can resolve the water problem once for all and provide the much needed respite to the people whose life becomes miserable due to water shortage during the peak summer months.  

Rattan Lal Gupta said that in the Kandi belt of aforesaid regions i.e. Jammu, Kathua and Samba every year during the summer months people can be seen on roads and streets in anguish to highlight their problems on account of water and power woes. Staging strong protests against the administration and blocking the highways and roads has become a common feature across these three districts when scorching heat is at its peak and people are sans water and power.

The senior National Conference leader asked the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to focus on the Chenab River Water Supply Scheme with the aim to address woes of the people. He urged the LG to initiate the result oriented measures now as this is the ripe time to prepare well in advance for addressing the upcoming water crisis in summer. He said that there is a need for establishing multipurpose projects capable of catering to both water and power requirements of the people so that people don’t have to face any crises on these counts in future.

Pertinent to mention that the Chenab River Water Supply Scheme was proposed by the then National Conference government of Jammu and Kashmir and the same was also sent to the Centre for funding.

(NOTE: PRESS RELEASE PUBLISHED AS RECEIVED)