Water conservation

Recently Chief Secretary, chaired a meeting of Jal Shakti Department to review progress on water conservation initiatives under the Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) across various districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting besides the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Jal Shakti Department was attended by Principal Secretary, APD; Commissioner Secretary, H&UDD; Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department; Commissioner Secretary, Forests; Secretary, RDD; Secretary, YS&S, MD, Jal Jeevan Mission besides other concerned officers of JSD. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir/Jammu and Deputy Commissioners participated online.

The meeting focused on accelerating efforts to mitigate water scarcity and ensure sustainable water resource management through a multi-pronged strategy.

He directed the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to lay special emphasis on framing district water conservation plans in convergence with schemes like MGNREGA, CAMPA, Capex and other relevant government programs. He also stressed the need for GIS mapping of these plans to ensure systematic execution of these plans for effective conservation of water.

Recognizing the growing water crisis, he urged the officials to geo-tag all water supply sources and implement measures to recharge five groundwater structures in every village. He called for saturation of government schools and Anganwadi centres with rainwater harvesting structures under the JSA-Catch the Rain initiative. He emphasised that all newly constructed buildings must incorporate rainwater harvesting mechanisms to promote sustainability.