Comprehensive plan for exploring water resources in India: Soz

Srinagar, Jan 14 (UNI) Union Water Resources Minister Saif-ud-Din Soz today said the Centre has launched a comprehensive plan to promote and explore water resources in the country under the eleventh Finance Commission.

Addressing a news conference here, he said in the first phase, 500 villages of the country's 31 districts would be brought under the Prime Minister's Special Irrigation Programme.

He said the Centre has a Rs 18 crore plan for restoring the glory of the River Jhelum by developing and beautifying its banks.

For this purpose, Prof Soz said about Rs 12 crore have already been released.

He said the water situation in the entire country was quite satisfactory. The Centre was striving hard to provide potable drinking water to every and each person of the country, he added.

''For achieving self-sufficiency in food production, water occupies key position and as natural water resources as well as rain water need to be preserved,'' the Union Minister said.

He also said the final outcome of the Indus Water Treaty was expected to be known by end of February this year.

Prof Soz said funds for 31 under-construction lift irrigation schemes in Jammu and Kashmir have been released while three new projects -- Haritar, Neelnag Lake and Budshah Pond (Tujar Sharief) -- would be taken up soon.

Modernisation of Dadi Canal Martand, Mav Nandi and Babul Canal was under process and the funds for the same would be released soon, he added.

The Union Minister said about 44 tube wells for irrigation and drinking water purposes were at different stages of development under the Central Ground Water Board.

UNI