Pathania reviews restoration works, pitches immediate renewal of essential services
UDHAMPUR: Amid incessant rains and flash floods wreaking havoc across Udhampur East, MLA Udhampur East, Ranbir Singh Pathania, today conducted an extensive tour of the affected areas to assess the damage and review restoration works being undertaken by various departments.
Accompanied by officers of the concerned departments, Pathania inspected the suspended Water Supply Scheme (WSS) at Malhar, the damaged water supply schemes at Battal, Jaganoo, and Thill Roun, besides reviewing the restoration of electricity infrastructure damaged due to heavy rains at Flata. He also took review of fresh landslides at Sundla village in Majalta, where a major landslide has posed a threat to public safety and infrastructure.
During the visit, Pathania underscored the need for ensuring uninterrupted essential services and supplies despite the challenging weather conditions. He impressed all departments to work in close coordination and remain on high alert until normalcy is fully restored.
Reviewing the status of the Malhar Water Supply Scheme, Mr Pathania informed that the tender under the SASCI programme has already been issued and expressed confidence that the scheme would soon be restored to its full pumping capacity, ensuring an adequate supply of potable drinking water to the people of the area.
With regard to the non-functional filtration plants at Battal and Thill Roun, he instructed the Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department to make them operational on priority. He further directed that the submersible pumps washed away at Thill Roun be replaced immediately so that the supply of clean and safe drinking water is restored without delay.
Emphasising that safe and potable drinking water is a commitment of the Modi Government, Pathania directed the concerned officers to ensure that no habitation suffers due to disruption of water supply.
The MLA appealed to the public to remain vigilant during the ongoing monsoon and avoid unnecessary movement near rivers, nallahs, landslide-prone areas, and vulnerable roads. He stressed that safeguarding human life as well as livestock must remain the foremost priority during the prevailing weather conditions.
He also called upon the Departments of Health, Education, Social Welfare, and Revenue to launch public awareness and sensitisation programmes regarding disaster preparedness and health precautions. He directed the Revenue Department to immediately assess and tabulate losses suffered by the public so that appropriate relief and assistance can be extended through the concerned agencies.
Taking serious note of the damaged road infrastructure, he instructed the concerned authorities to undertake immediate restoration of the suspended road in Panchayat Roun-I. He also sought urgent protective measures on the Jaganoo Link Road, which has become highly vulnerable due to continuous shooting stones and landslide activity.
The MLA further urged the National Highways Authority to ensure that the National Highway remains open, traffic-worthy, and free from waterlogging, while directing all line departments to remain on their toes and respond promptly to public grievances arising from the ongoing rains.
Among those present during the visit were former Sarpanches Vikram Singh, Smt. Sunita Devi, Verinder Singh, Sehdev Singh, Krishan Singh, Joginder Sharma, besides Ravinder, Rohit, Anmol, Aryan, Sobe Chand, Madan Lal and a large number of local residents.
