Himachal Dy CM meets Union Jal Shakti Minister, seeks release of Jal Jeevan Mission funds

New Delhi, [India], July 29 (ANI): Himachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri met Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil here and sought release of funds allocated to the state under Jal Jeevan Mission.
The prime focus of the meeting was non-release of funds to Jal Shakti department under the Jal Jeevan Mission.
According to a Himachal Pradesh government release, the Deputy Chief Minister apprised Patil that though an amount of Rs. 916.53 crore has been allocated by Centre under Jal Jeevan Mission for the current fiscal, till date no funds have been released to the state government resulting in hampering the progress of the ongoing works.
Agnihotri urged that the first and second tranche of installment amounting to Rs 458.26 crore be released soon.
The release said that the Union Minister assured that he would look into the matter and funds would be released so as to ensure the completion of ongoing schemes.
It said that the endeavour of the state government is to provide improved Irrigation facilities to the people of Himachal Pradesh.
The release said that some of the major projects including Phina Singh Medium Irrigation Project, are still lying with Centre for inclusion under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sanchai Yojna (PMKSY) for Rs. 282.47 crore.
Approval of two more irrigation projects - 'Beet Area' and 'Kuthlehar' - amounting to Rs 120.79 crore was also requested.
In addition to these projects, the matter regarding release of central assistance for ongoing irrigation projects under PMKSY was also discussed.
Agnihotri apprised Patil that heavy rains during last year's monsoon wreaked havoc in the State causing loss of human lives and affected numerous drinking and irrigation projects. The Kullu-Manali area bore major brunt of the floods.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the allocation of funds under the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP) for flood control and mitigation measures along the banks of River Beas in Kullu district, specifically between Palchan and Aut, was essential to ensure that damage to life and property could be prevented.
The Union Minister was briefed that considering the damages and requiring preventive measures following last year's floods, the estimated cost of project for channelizing the river banks is approximately Rs. 2300 crores.
Patil assured that they would consider all the issues discussed and placed before him sympathetically. (ANI)