GANDERBAL, APRIL 26: The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole, today visited breached spot on the Sindh Extension Canal at Malshahibagh, Ganderbal and took stock of ongoing restoration work.
The breach which resulted from sloughing in December last year and affected the 6.8 MGD Alasteng WTP, which supplies water to several areas in the north of Srinagar and several parts of Ganderbal district.
The Div Com was accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhury, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Shafqat Iqbal, Chief Engineers of PHE, Abdul Wahid and I&FC, Mir Shahnawaz, ADC Ganderbal, Farooq Ahmad Baba, SE Hydraulic Ganderbal, Executive Engineer I&FC Ganderbal and other concerned.
While reviewing the progress of work on the breached spot, the Div Com directed the concerned authorities to expedite the work on breached spot by way of engaging more men and machinery and exhorted for charging the canal within the shortest possible time.
While taking the stock of the ongoing repairing work on breached spot, the Executive Engineer I&FC briefed the Div Com about the excavation plan and current progress on the repairing work.
On the occasion the Div Com was informed that portable water is supplied to 15 lakh people of Srinagar district and about 1 lakh souls of Ganderbal district besides several Hectares of agricultural land is also dependent on same canal for irrigation.
While reviewing the repairing work completion on the spot, the concerned officials raised the issue of material supply due to lock down including steel for truss grider flumed bridge which they construe as the main reason for the slow progress of work. The Div Com said that matter will be taken up with the concerned supplying agency/company and asked the DC Ganderbal to form a comprehensive plan so that the work on the breached spot is completed at the earliest keeping in view Kharif irrigation season.
To ensure that the affected areas receive adequate drinking water supply, the Div Com directed the concerned to ensure sufficient rows of temporary pipes are laid to bypass the damaged spot to overcome the shortage of portable water in the affected areas.
