Patna: State water resources minister, Vijay Kumar Choudhary, on Saturday conducted a detailed review of the progress, allocation, and expenditure status of all projects costing over Rs 50 crore. He asked the officials concerned to take necessary steps to ensure timely completion of the projects related to flood protection and providing irrigation facilities to farmers.
Chairing a meeting at Sinchai Bhawan, the minister emphasised that the optimal utilisation of river water available in the state was a top priority of CM Nitish Kumar. Officials from the water resources department were instructed to ensure proportional expenditure according to the budget allocation for flood protection and irrigation expansion plans.
“Any obstacles hindering the timely implementation of these projects should be identified and addressed on a priority basis,” the minister asked the officials.
He also asked the officials to take appropriate action against those contractors who are not working according to the specified timeline. The minister ordered strict monitoring of compliance with the departmental directives.
The review meeting was attended by the department’s principal secretary Santosh Kumar Mall, additional secretary Naveen, chief engineer of flood control Manoj Raman, chief engineer Nand Kumar Jha, and chief engineer (planning and monitoring) Sanjay Kumar Ojha, among other senior officials.