HP Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri said Jal Shakti Department in Himachal Pradesh has suffered a loss of 2,000 crore rupees due to rains in the last month, during a state level review meeting of the department here last night.
The meeting, held through video conference, was presided over by Deputy Chief Minister, Himachal Pradesh, Mukesh Agnihotri. He called for efforts to restore services and address the situation.
Chief Engineers, Chief Engineers, Superintending Engineers, and many other officers of the Jal Shakti Department also participated in the meeting and gave detailed information to the Deputy Chief Minister about the damaged and affected drinking water schemes in their respective areas due to rains in the second phase.
On this occasion, Mukesh Agnihotri instructed the officials of the Jal Shakti Department to ensure water supply in all areas of the state within the next 48 hours. He said that the officers should visit the areas themselves and continuously monitor the work’s progress.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the repair work of drinking water schemes affected by heavy rains during the month of July has been done by the officers and employees of the department. With the same intensity, once again the officers and employees of the department should show their efficiency so that no person in the state has to face a water crisis.
He said that water supply is a big challenge even in the second phase of the disaster, so leave for all officers and employees of the department will be banned.
The Deputy Chief Minister directed that water supply should be ensured through tankers and other alternative means in areas where restoration of the drinking water scheme is taking a long time.
Apart from this, the quality of drinking water being made available should also be constantly checked so that the challenge of water-borne diseases is not faced during the rainy season. He said that special care should be taken for the water supply in the relief camps set up for the displaced people of the state due to the disaster.
He said that the losses caused by heavy rains would be reported to the Central Government soon. He informed me that Rs 50 crore has been released immediately for the repair of the schemes of the Jal Shakti Department, and the restoration work of the very important drinking water scheme is going on a war footing.
On this occasion, Superintendent of Police Arjit Sen Thakur, Superintendent Engineer of Jal Shakti Department Naresh Kumar Dhiman, and high officials of the Manpower Department from different parts of Himachal Pradesh were present through the virtual medium.
