12 years on, vital Shangus water supply scheme awaits completion
Anantnag: Even after the passage of more than 12 years the Shangus water supply scheme in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district is nowhere near completion as the work on the scheme was abandoned soon after it started several years back.
Sources within the department said that the scheme was undertaken under the National Rural Drinking Water Program (NRDWP) and was sanctioned in 2008 when the NC-Congress coalition was in power in Jammu and Kashmir.
They said that the scheme which was announced amid much pomp and show and aimed at providing drinking water to dozens of village in Dachnipora belt was to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 18.90 crore .
Sources said that after being sanctioned in year 2008, work was started in year 2012, however, soon the funds started drying up and the contractor who was allotted the work was not even paid.
Locals said that as scheme was sanctioned during NC-Congress regime, the PDP-BJP regime did not take the scheme seriously and showed no interest in reviewing the scheme.
They said that time and again the higher ups were informed about the scheme and the benefit it would have offered to the people but to no avail.
On contacting executive engineer PHE division Bijbehara Mohammad Hanief, he said that some of the components have been already completed while as fresh tenders will be floated soon for rest of the components for which DPRs have been already been formulated.
The department is expecting funds in coming days and accordingly payments will be sanctioned for release to the concerned contractor as well.
Jahangeer Ganaie
