A retired IAS officer, Rajesh Sharma, has been appointed member of Jammu & Kashmir Water Resources Regulatory Authority (JKWRRA). He has been administered the oath of office by the Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo.

Complimenting Sharma on assuming the charge, Dulloo asked him to use his expertise to bring innovations in the working of the JKWRRA.

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The chief secretary took this occasion to ask the Irrigation and Flood Control Department to further expand its command area under different irrigation schemes here in the UT.

He also sensitised the department about the preparedness of the UT to receive the waters from the Shahpur Kandi barrage. He asked it to further explore possibilities of bringing more land under crop production by devising requisite irrigation schemes under the NABARD, etc.

On the occasion, ACS, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra said the regulatory authority has now become fully functional with three of its five members in place making the quorum viable.

He gave out that the Authority has an essential duty of regulating water resources in the UT. Its mandate includes ensuring judicious, equitable and sustainable management, allocation and utilisation of these resources, fixing the rates for use of water and all other relevant matters.

It’s pertinent to mention here that Sharma, an erstwhile IAS officer, has served in higher administration and management roles in J&K government holding senior responsibilities.

He had been the regional director (Survey & Land Records), Udhampur, Director Handloom Development Department, Secretary Public Service Commission (J&K) and lastly the Custodian General of J&K before superannuation from active government services in June, 2023.