Chief Secretary Reviews Progress of Water Resources Department Projects — Focus on Ram Jal Setu Link Project

Jaipur, Oct 2025 :Chief Secretary Shri Sudhansh Pant emphasized that Rajasthan’s geographical conditions are unfavorable for groundwater availability, even though a large portion of the state’s population depends on agriculture. Therefore, ensuring adequate water supply for irrigation and farming remains a top priority of the state government.

Chairing a review meeting at the Secretariat on Tuesday, Shri Pant examined the progress of 23 departmental projects costing over ₹100 crore and seven works related to the Ram Jal Setu Link Project. He stated that the Ram Jal Setu Project is a flagship initiative of the state government, benefiting 17 districts. Given its significance, he directed that all components of the project must be executed on time and with high quality standards.

The Chief Secretary instructed officials to prepare PERT-CPM charts for each project using modern software tools to monitor progress in real time. He further advised that parallel activities should be executed simultaneously wherever possible to save both time and resources. He also called for streamlining tender processes and work timelines to ensure that the public benefits from these schemes promptly.

Shri Pant directed officials to conduct regular field visits to assess the actual ground situation of the projects. He stressed the need for a robust monitoring and follow-up system at all levels to prevent unnecessary delays.

To strengthen project oversight, the Chief Secretary proposed the formation of a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) for continuous monitoring. The PMU would include technical experts, engineers, and data analysts to enhance transparency and efficiency in implementation.

He also instructed that random checks of construction activities be carried out and that scientific testing of construction materials be done regularly to ensure quality control.

Additional Chief Secretary for Water Resources Shri Abhay Kumar highlighted the need for coordination among departments to resolve issues causing delays — such as forest land clearance, land acquisition, electricity connections, and highway crossings. The Chief Secretary suggested that such interdepartmental issues be addressed through secretary-level meetings, adding that he himself would chair discussions if necessary to expedite solutions.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary for Water Resources Shri Abhay Kumar, Chief Engineer and Additional Secretary Shri Bhuvan Bhaskar, Managing Director of ERCP Shri Ravi Solanki, along with divisional-level Chief Engineers and Additional Chief Engineers.