In a very impressive function held on 7th October 2024 at 4 PM in the Auditorium of Raj Bhavan Srinagar the Honble LG released a book titled “hand book on water supply”. The book authored by renowned Indian water expert Er. G.S Jha and Dr. Muzamil Ahmad Rafiqui Executive Engineer of Jal Shakti Department were released in the presence of Additional Chief Secretary/Financial Commissioner of Jal Shakti Department Sh. Shaleen Kabra and Chairman or JKWRRA Er. Iftikhar Kakroo and other senior officers of the Government. Among the audience the both graduate as well as Post Graduate engineers were present along with the families of the author’s and some prominent citizen. The book is aimed to guide the in-service engineers, students and professionals working in water sector to implement various water supply schemes as well as to disseminate knowledge of water sector for the welfare and well being of the humanity. The book has been designed in such a manner that it works as compendium for the field engineers as well as for the engineering students for very easy understanding in conceptualization and implementation of water supply projects .
The efforts put in by the authors of the book have been highly appreciated by the Honble LG who has further advised the departments to work out similar guiding tools for efficient governance of schemes which are close to the aspirations of common masses. The Honble LG praised the efforts of Authors and all other Post Graduate Engineers for going through the literature at national and global platform to indentify gaps and make necessary guiding tool according to which the shortfalls and knowledge gaps could be addressed. He further appreciated the role of ACS JKJSD and His contribution which is apparent by dynamism exhibited by Sh. Shaleen Kabra ACS JSD infusing a new life in to the Jal Shakti department and creating a conducive work culture for optimizing gains out of the investment for the key sectors especially the JJM.
The ACS Jal Shakti department extended his warm thanks to the PG Engineers association for inviting him to the event facilitating him to have an insight into the remarkable work done by the two authors for bringing out the benefit for the society while accomplishing this task after due diligence without compromising with their routine duties. He further mentioned that this book is in fact an eye opener for all stake holders to remain awake to the future challenges in water sector. The ACS JSD further discussed the need for Advance research and development for flood mitigation, water management, and earthquake etc for evaluating technical tools to combat the adverse effects for these catastrophes by building suitable tools.
Chairman JKWRRA Sh. Iftikhar Kakroo while eulogizing the efforts of the authors for the preparation of this compendium for first time in the history of JK engineering stated that it is a revolutionary measure which has broken a stalemate in the departments with regard to knowledge sharing and this effort should energize the field agencies for prompt and innovative ways for improvements of water supply schemes for optimization of gains.
The former Chairman JKWRRA Er G S Jha while referring to his tenure as chairman JKWRRA during which he had noticed knowledge gaps in his interaction with the engineers of the departments in various meetings/ workshop. While acknowledging the high caliber and competence of the field engineers of J&K he informed that the knowledge gaps were purely a result of lack of adequate reference material specifically oriented for the implementation of the schemes in the water sector. This is a unique book of its own type. The knowledge and skill needed for design of structures, hydraulic design , population forecasting, Survey and investigation, soil investigation, execution, operation and maintenance, along with the tendering and contracting which are subject matter of different books are complied in a brief format in this book. Thus the idea of writing a handbook specific to the cause germinated in my mind and i made it a mission to come up with this book. He further acknowledged that the book is seeing the light of the day only as a result of the persuasion and single mindedness of his co author Dr Muzamil Rafiqui. He praised the active support of all JK PG Engineers association which contributed in the pursuit and have been helpful through their points of view as per their technical understanding.
Co-author of the book Dr. Muzamil Ahmad Rafiqui while introducing the hand book to the audience spoke about the hard labor put in by him under the guidance of Er G S Jha, Dr. Barkat Hussain, and Dr. Danish Ahmad and other colleagues to make this dream happen. In this regard he brought to light the ever increasing challenges in project formulation and implementation particularly with regard to the global advances in technology. He further stated that it is in the above backdrop that a genuine exercise has been undertaken for evaluating the key gaps to work out best possible technical solutions as advanced by various aspects incorporated in the handbook.
While concluding the function the Honble LG assured Engineers that Government shall extend all possible help and support to all of them and other officers associated with infrastructure development. Further he urged them to conduct themselves both professionally and personally in a manner befitting their qualifications and aspirations of common people associated with them.
