DC Drass Reviews Water Management and Public Water Connectivity Issues.

DC Drass Reviews Water Management and Public Water Connectivity Issues.
Drass, June 15, 2026: Deputy Commissioner Drass, Imteeaz Kacho (JKAS), today chaired a meeting to review water management and public water connectivity issues of Drass District, availability of water connections in Government institutions as well as preparedness for addressing water scarcity during the winter season.
The meeting was attended by Sub-Divisional Magistrate Drass, Vishal Atri (JKAS); Executive Engineer, PHE, Kausar Jabeen Qari; Block Development Officer Drass/Bhimbat, Shahid Sultan; Assistant Executive Engineer, PHE, Zakir Hussain and Junior Engineer, PHE, Drass.
During the meeting, the officers discussed the status of water supply infrastructure in various villages and public institutions across the of the District. Special emphasis was laid on ensuring adequate water availability in schools, Anganwadi centres, health institutions and other public assets apart from supply to residents.
The Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department presented a proposal for effective water management during winter months through promotion of the use of Public Stand Posts (PSP) in place of individual Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) in areas facing seasonal constraints. The Deputy Commissioner directed the PHE Department to conduct a detailed survey in the month of July in coordination with the Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Department (RDD) to identify locations where such measures can be implemented.
The officers also deliberated on the issue of resource diversification in areas facing water scarcity. Issues of various villages were discussed from the perspective of resource constraints which affect water availability. Possible alternatives to ensure uninterrupted water supply to residents came up for discussion.
Further, the Deputy Commissioner issued to prepare a comprehensive list of all Government offices and institutions as well as public assets to ascertain the availability of water connections and identify institutions lacking adequate facilities. The concerned departments were instructed to submit detailed reports for timely action.
The Deputy Commissioner emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts among departments to strengthen water management systems and ensure reliable access to safe drinking water for all residents and public institutions. He directed the officers to expedite surveys and take proactive measures to address water-related challenges before the onset of winter.
The Executive Engineer of PHE Department threw light on the apprehension regarding depletion of water reserves/water table and emphasized the need for reliance on surface sources in the pursuit of mitigation.
The early and urgent need for handing over JJM Schemes in various villages to the community was also discussed in details. The Departments of PHE and RD&PR were given instructions by the Deputy Commissioner for bringing the matter to a conclusion in a time-bound manner.