Rana reviews Jal Shakti works; emphasises accountability, better monitoring, faster execution of projects Underperforming divisions pulled-up

JAMMU : Minister for Jal Shakti, Forest, Ecology & Environment and Tribal Affairs, Javed Ahmed Rana, on Tuesday chaired a comprehensive review meeting regarding functioning of the Jal Shakti Department.
He assessed the progress on various ongoing initiatives of the department, stressing the need for stronger monitoring, enhanced accountability and time-bound execution of developmental works.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti, Shaleen Kabra, members of the J&K Water Resources Regulatory Authority (JKWRRA), Mission Director Jal Jeevan Mission, Secretary JKWRRA, all Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers (Civil/Mechanical), Executive Engineers (Civil/Mechanical), Executive Engineers in-charge of Ground Water, Quality Control, Planning and Design (QCPD) and Water Quality divisions besides other senior officers of the department.
During the meeting, the Minister reviewed the district-wise status of tendering, allotment and commencement of works under various schemes being implemented by the department.
Taking serious notice of underperforming divisions, he directed the concerned officers to intensify their efforts and ensure strict adherence to the timelines set for project completion. He cautioned that non-performance and unnecessary delays would not be tolerated and accountability would be fixed against the erring officials.
Rana emphasised the importance of maintaining the highest standards of transparency and accountability in the execution of departmental schemes. He called for continuous monitoring and rigorous quality checks to ensure that all works are carried out in accordance with the prescribed standards.
Highlighting the critical role of field-level staff, the Minister said that effective supervision on the ground is essential for successful implementation of schemes. He remarked that field-level workers form the backbone of the department and play a vital role in ensuring efficient delivery of services to the public.
The Minister also underlined the need to prioritise the conservation and sustainable management of water resources. He observed that J&K is currently facing challenging circumstances due to natural factors such as deficient rainfall and drought-like conditions in certain areas.
“In view of the emerging challenges related to water scarcity, the department must adopt long-term and sustainable strategies to ensure adequate availability of potable water for the people,” Rana said.
He suggested that a certain percentage of funds under UT sector be earmarked specifically for water conservation measures aimed at enhancing resource sustainability and ensuring replenishment of groundwater and other water sources.
While reviewing the progress under UT Capex Budget 2025–26, the Minister directed the officers to work in close coordination to ensure optimal utilisation of the allocated funds and prevent any surrender of resources meant for public welfare. He warned that officers displaying a lackadaisical approach in fund utilisation or project execution would be held accountable.
Rana also reviewed the department’s preparedness for the upcoming summer season, which is expected to place additional stress on the available water resources.
Stressing the importance of strong inter-departmental coordination, he directed officers to ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential water supply services and maintain an efficient response mechanism across Jammu & Kashmir. He further instructed the department to remain in a constant state of readiness and ensure that grievance redressal systems remain accessible, responsive and effective for the public, particularly during emergencies and peak demand periods.
The meeting also deliberated upon several challenges affecting project execution, including land and site disputes, damage caused by flash floods to Irrigation and Flood Control works and certain technical feasibility issues.
Earlier, Additional Chief Secretary Jal Shakti Shaleen Kabra made a detailed presentation outlining the progress achieved under ongoing schemes and the new initiatives proposed by the department.
He also briefed the Minister on the financial position of the department and the status of projects being executed under UT Capex Budget as well as centrally sponsored schemes. He informed the meeting about the physical and financial achievements recorded so far and the targets set for the current financial year.
Regarding the status of Har Ghar Jal certification of villages as of February 21, 2026, he informed that 1,379 villages have been reported under the programme, of which, 874 villages have been certified, so far.
The Superintending Engineers were directed to review the progress and expedite the certification process to ensure that all reported villages are duly certified by the end of the current month.
The Minister also stressed the need to minimise the gap between completed and operational schemes by ensuring timely commissioning of finished projects so that the intended benefits reach the public without delay.
On creation of in-village RPWSS IDs, the meeting was informed that a total of 17,004 habitations are to be covered under the programme.
The Minister directed the officers to accelerate the process to facilitate better monitoring and effective tracking of scheme implementation.
With regard to the UT Capex Budget 2025–26, the Additional Chief Secretary informed that out of a total of 762 works across different sectors, 551 have entered the execution stage while 161 have already been completed.
As many as, 745 works—about 97 percent—have received Administrative Approval with 726 projects tendered and 644 allotted to executing agencies.
Among the sectors, the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Jammu has taken up 523 projects, of which, 364 are currently under progress and 143 have been completed.
In the Public Health Engineering (PHE) sector, work has commenced on 113 out of the 129 allotted projects in Jammu while nine projects have already been completed in Kashmir.
The meeting was also informed that under SASCI works 2025–26, a total of 43 projects with an estimated cost of ₹423.86 crore have been undertaken across the PHE and I&FC sectors in J&K.
Shaleen Kabra further informed that the department has taken several measures to address the issue of erratic power supply during the peak summer months.
These included close coordination with the Power Development Department and the installation of backup power sources such as DG sets at critical PHE infrastructure.
As part of these efforts, 308 water supply schemes have already been equipped with backup power through DG sets to ensure uninterrupted water supply to consumers.
In a significant step towards transparent and efficient governance, the meeting was also informed that the Jal Shakti Department has transitioned to a fully functional e-office system across all its divisions, enabling paperless operations and improved administrative efficiency.
The meeting also held detailed discussion on the progress of desiltation works, projects being implemented under PMKSY, PMDP, district-wise status of Household Tap Connections (HTCs) and other related issues.