Nanded, Sept 22 With rainfall in Nanded district remaining below the expected average this monsoon, the district administration has stepped up water conservation measures to strengthen groundwater levels and prepare for a possible water shortage or drought-like situation, Collector Rahul Kardile said on Tuesday.
Under the ‘Seva Sankalp’ campaign, water-recharge pits, cement nala bunds, well-recharge and borewell-recharge works are being taken up on a large scale through the Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Viksit Bharat Employment and Livelihood Guarantee Rural Scheme.
The administration has set a target of creating one lakh water-recharge pits across the district. So far, proposals for 35,775 pits have been received. Of these, 31,360 have received technical approval and 28,401 have got administrative nod, while work on 2,001 pits has already begun, officials said.
Collector Kardile said the focus was on conserving available rainwater, improving groundwater levels and creating durable and productive assets in rural areas while generating local employment.
Farmers, villagers and other residents have been urged to submit proposals for water conservation works on their farmland and in their villages to the respective gram panchayats.
The proposals will be scrutinised as per the applicable rules, following which eligible works will be planned, the administration said.
Gram panchayats have also been asked to assess the condition of water sources, streams, watersheds, wells and borewells in their jurisdiction and prepare a priority list of works. An integrated plan is to be prepared and placed before the gram sabha for approval before being submitted for further action.
(PTI News)
