Mukesh Agnihotri emphasizes for release of funds allocated to the State under Jal Jeevan Mission with Union Minister

New Delhi July 29 2024 : Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri met Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil at New Delhi today. The prime focus of the meeting was non-release of funds to Jal Shakti department under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

He apprised Sh. Patil that though an amount of Rs. 916.53 crore has been allocated by Government of India under Jal Jeevan Mission for the current fiscal, but till date no funds have been released to the State Government resulting in hampering the progress of the ongoing works.

Sh. Agnihotri emphasized that the 1st and 2nd tranche of installment amounting to Rs. 458.26 crores be released soon. 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.

The endeavour of State Government is to provide improved Irrigation facilities to the people of Himachal Pradesh. Some of the major projects which include Phina Singh Medium Irrigation Project is still lying with Government of India for inclusion under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sanchai Yojna (PMKSY) for Rs. 282.47 crore. Approval of two more irrigation projects namely the ‘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.

Sh. Agnihotri apprised Sh. 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 experienced the 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 so as 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.

C.R. Patil assured that they would consider all the issues discussed and placed before him sympathetically.