Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo administered the oath of office to Rajesh Sharma, former Custodian General of Jammu and Kashmir, as a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Water Resources Regulatory Authority (JKWRRA).
The ceremony took place in the presence of high-ranking officials including the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of the Jal Shakti Department, members of the JKWRRA, Secretary of Jal Shakti, Chief Engineers, and various other dignitaries.
In his address, Chief Secretary Dulloo praised Sharma for his expertise and urged him to bring innovative approaches to the functioning of the Authority. He also directed the Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department to expand their command area through different irrigation schemes within the Union Territory (UT). Additionally, he emphasized the readiness of the UT to receive waters from the Shahpur Kandi barrage and encouraged the exploration of further possibilities to enhance crop production through irrigation schemes under NABARD.
Shaleen Kabra, ACS of the Jal Shakti Department, highlighted the significance of the regulatory authority, noting that with three out of five members now in place, the Authority is fully operational, ensuring a viable quorum. Kabra outlined the Authority’s crucial role in regulating water resources, including the management, allocation, and utilization of these resources in a judicious, equitable, and sustainable manner. He also mentioned the Authority’s responsibility for fixing rates for water usage and addressing other relevant matters pertaining to water resources in the UT.
Rajesh Sharma, an accomplished former IAS officer, brings a wealth of experience to his new role in the JKWRRA. Throughout his career in the J&K government, Sharma held various senior positions, including Regional Director (Survey & Land Records) in Udhampur, Director of the Handloom Development Department, Secretary of the Public Service Commission (J&K), and most recently, Custodian General of Jammu and Kashmir until his superannuation from active government service in June 2023.
