Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Wednesday directed the Irrigation and Public Health (IPH) department to ensure that all major drinking water supply and irrigation schemes were completed within the stipulated time.
Presiding over the review meeting of IPH department, here, he said that total 1332 habitats had been provided drinking water during this financial year upto November, 2015 against the target of 2074 habitations. Similarly, 2043 hectare was covered under irrigation facility during this period against the target of 3500 hectare area.
The Chief Minister directed to depute some senior officer from the department as a nodal officer to peruse the matter with Government of India (GoI) for releasing remaining funds of various centrally sponsored schemes.
The Chief Minister also directed to expedite the work on the channelisation of the Pabbar River in Shimla district, Chhounchh Khad in Kangra district, Beas river from Pulchan to Aut in district Kullu and Seer Khad from Barchhwar to Jahoo in Sarkaghat. He said that channelization of river Beas would be done on priority. A DPR amounting to `1155.15 Crore had been prepared and submitted to Government of India.
He said the work of channelization on main Swan river was the top priority of the State government but the GoI had not released the second installment of `107.80 crore.
He said that sewerage system would be extended to Manali rural areas for which DPR amounting to `101 Crore had been prepared. He directed the department for conducting the survey and preparation of estimate for sewerage scheme to Chirgaon town and submit the proposal at the earliest.