Udhampur, Jul 4: MLA Udhampur East R S Pathania has emphasised the need for the holistic and time-bound completion of all projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).
Reiterating the government’s commitment, Pathania said that providing clean, potable water to every household was a national priority and a core resolution of the Government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Pathania stated this while interacting with the public and officials during a series of ‘Janata Darbars’ at Panchayat Ghar Seen Brahmana; Neelam Palace Manwal and Battal Balian on Friday.
The interactions were aimed at making efforts to ensure equitable access to safe drinking water and strengthen local infrastructure.
Pathania said that thousands of crores were allocated to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir under JJM and it was the collective responsibility of the administration and implementing agencies to ensure that these funds were used efficiently, transparently, and for the benefit of the people.
During an on-spot inspection of the Water Supply Scheme at Seen Brahmana, Pathania reviewed the primary water source and issued strict directions to prevent contamination from outflows originating near the cremation ground. He instructed the immediate restoration of a defunct tubewell constructed nearly two decades ago and called for the development of an additional borewell to meet the increasing drinking water demands of the local population.
BJP MLA also stressed that the scheme must be completed within a defined timeframe to avoid delays.
Pathania further raised the long-pending issue of water being sourced from Jhajjar Nallah and called for a rationalized solution. Expressing concern over the substandard execution of the Water Supply Scheme in Dhamma, where newly constructed filtration tanks began falling apart within months, he ordered immediate action against the responsible contractor.
He also directed the rectification of faulty underground pipelines and failing gravity-based rural water schemes (GRS), citing that quality, timely delivery, and accountability must be upheld as guiding principles in all government projects.
These, he said, were the hallmarks of the Modi government and must be emulated in the Union Territory by all officers and contractors involved in development works.
During the public meetings, Pathania announced funds for the construction of a community shed near Shiv Mandir in Sodan and also announced a Common Facility Centre (CFC) at Seen Brahmana to facilitate public meetings and local gatherings.
At Manwal, he directed the Department of Agriculture to ensure early completion of mushroom sheds and polyhouses.
He also reviewed the status of the Baryalta-Satrari JJM Scheme, in Bhatti Barigarh water supply and instructed that borewells in the region be connected to the main distribution network to resolve ongoing water scarcity issues. He took serious note of the out-of-order handpumps and instructed the concerned officials to ensure their immediate repair.
With the onset of the rainy season, Pathania emphasised the need for a proactive and modern approach by the Public Works Department to unclog blocked roads and maintain road connectivity. He expressed deep concern over the dysfunctional state of irrigation canals and stressed that these must be restored on a priority basis to support paddy cultivation and protect the livelihood of farmers.
Envisioning a brighter and more sustainable future for his constituency, Pathania reiterated his commitment to transforming Udhampur East into a model constituency in terms of water supply, road connectivity, healthcare, and education. He stressed that there must be continuous appraisal and upgradation of grassroots-level facilities and that the people’s aspirations must be met with sincerity, efficiency, and determination.
