Aimed at strengthening urban water infrastructure and ensuring uninterrupted potable water supply, Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmed Rana, on Saturday conducted an extensive inspection of the 1.125 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) Rapid Sand Filtration Water Treatment Plant (WTP) at Mehjoor Nagar, Srinagar.
Accompanied by MLA Ahsan Pardesi and senior officers of the department, the Minister reviewed the plant’s operations, treatment capacity, and service delivery mechanisms.
During the visit, Rana highlighted the importance of maintaining water quality and ensuring efficient distribution. While appreciating the efforts of engineers and field staff, he stressed the need to upgrade infrastructure in line with the growing demands of Srinagar’s population.
The Minister also assessed the functioning of the Padshahi Bagh Water Supply Scheme (WSS), which currently caters to around 35,000 residents, sourcing raw water directly from the Jhelum River.
Taking note of its limitations, he directed on-the-spot augmentation of the scheme with the installation of a new 2.00 MGD Water Treatment Plant. For this, he instructed the Chief Engineer, PHE Department, to expedite the acquisition of 6 kanals of land required for the project and coordinate closely with the district administration and revenue authorities to avoid delays.
“The Government led by Omar Abdullah is committed to providing safe and adequate drinking water to every household. As cities expand, infrastructure must keep pace. Today’s inspection reinforces our resolve to ensure no community is left underserved,” Rana said.
He further assured that such inspections will be held regularly to track progress, address bottlenecks, and ensure timely execution of projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission and other urban water supply initiatives.
Senior engineers, including the Chief Engineer, SE PHE, and Executive Engineers, were present during the inspection and assured the Minister of time-bound compliance with his directives. (Agencies)
