Centre approves 2 water projects for J and K capital

Srinagar, Sep 11 (UNI) The Centre has approved two water projects for the winter and summer capitals of Jammu and Kashmir where under the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP), 1357 Water Supply Schemes (WSS) costing Rs 1153.28 crore are under execution.

An official spokesman said today that for augmentation of WSSs in capital cities, Jammu and Srinagar, projects worth Rs 290 crore and Rs 338.74 crore respectively has been submitted by the Public Health Engineering (PHE) department to the government of India.

Both the projects stand approved by the Union Ministry of Urban Development for funding.

He said under the programme, out of 551 ongoing water supply schemes, 279 new schemes have been taken up during last year in Kashmir division at a cost of Rs 601 crore.

Similarly, out of 708 ongoing schemes, 323 new Water Supply Schemes have been taken up during last financial year at a cost of Rs 538.40 crore in Jammu division.

Rs 5.53 crore have been incurred on the execution of 27 ongoing WSS in Leh district, while as Rs 8.35 crore were utilised for 71 under execution Water Supply Schemes in Kargil district during last financial year.

During the last year, the department has covered 818 habitations under potable water supply programme in the state and has also installed 2682 hand pumps in water scarcity areas.

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