Govt Launches Rs 594 Cr Water Scheme for Samba Town; 6 Rural Projects Inaugurated

SRINAGAR: The government on Monday launched a major drinking water infrastructure push in Samba, laying the foundation stone for the Rs 594 crore Water Supply Scheme (WSS) for Samba town under AMRUT 2.0 and inaugurating six rural water supply schemes.

The Samba Town scheme aims to provide 530 Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTCs) and ensure safe drinking water coverage across all 17 municipal wards, benefiting over 30,000 residents.

In rural areas, six Water Supply Schemes were inaugurated across villages including Devaka, Daboh, Gangeri Jamoda, Sandhi-II, Sangwal-II, and Dabri. Of these, five are sanctioned under the Jal Jeevan Mission and one under the UT CAPEX Budget, with a combined cost of Rs 17.75 crore. The schemes are expected to improve water access for hundreds of rural households and strengthen local water resilience.

Key components of the schemes include sump tanks, Ground Service Reservoirs (GSRs), rising mains, filtration units, and the installation of electric sub-stations to ensure uninterrupted water supply. A total of 673 household tap connections have been provided under the rural schemes.

Minister for Jal Shakti, Javed Ahmed Rana, who laid the foundation stone and inaugurated the rural projects, said the initiatives reflect the Omar Abdullah-led government’s focus on equitable and sustainable water infrastructure development. He commended the executing agencies and said the projects align with the vision of building climate-resilient infrastructure in both urban and rural areas.