POONCH: Secretary PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Farooq Ahmad Shah today made an extensive tour of Poonch to take stock of the various facilities being provided to public including drinking water and irrigation facilities.

Secretary called an emergency meeting of all concerned Chief Engineers and other officers and directed them to conduct regular public durbars to address to the grievances of the general public and ensure the regular water supply to all the areas.

During the meeting, Secretary stressed upon all the officers to expedite the completion of all the schemes so that these schemes can be utilized for general public.

Secretary was informed that the work on 23 Centrally Sponsored Water Supply schemes is underway in Poonch with an expenditure of about Rs 31 crores.

The first phase of these schemes shall be completed within two months. 21 thousand people of these areas shall be benefitted by these schemes.

It was given out that a total of 9 Central Sponsored Water Supply Schemes with an expenditure of Rs 10 crores shall be completed in Rajouri district till December this year which shall benefit 38 thousand people in the area.

Shah also reviewed the steps being taken for irrigation and flood control. He was informed that a total of 35 irrigation schemes with an expenditure of Rs 42 crores have been taken up in Poonch, Rajouri and Nowshera among which 12 have been completed while 18 shall be completed till December this year.

By the completion of these schemes an area of more than 3200 hectares shall be irrigated.