26 mandals identified for water conservation: Collector

Anantapur: A 3-member central Jal Shakti Abhiyan team headed by LS Changsan arrived here and held discussions with District   S Sathyanarayana on implementing water conservation measures in the identified drought-hit 26 mandals in the district.

Under the Jala Shakti Abhiyan scheme, Rs 135 crore would be spent towards water conservation initiatives including creation of water harvesting structures in the drought-hit mandals. The initiatives include soak pits, check dams, ponds and lakes revival and de-siltation in water tanks and jungle clearance are all aimed at recharging of wells and bores and boosting groundwater table. Two other members of the team include Arun Kumar and Rahul Kapoor.

The campaign launched on July 1 will extend up to September 15. Under the scheme, every house will be covered for digging water conservation pits which will help charge groundwater. People are being educated on the uses of water conservation pits wherein used domestic water will again reach the ground and recharge the same. The water conservation campaign aimed at conservation every drop of used water had been launched in all the 26 mandals.

As part of the scheme, a reservoir with an investment of Rs 1.77 crore is currently being built in Parigi mandal with the objective of reviving the ancient Jayamangali river. The underground reservoir storage capacity is 93 million cubic feet of water which in turn would recharge 55 bores under the river catchment area.

District Collector at a meeting with the central team members explained about the drought conditions in the 26 mandals and the topography of the district. He said that special focus is being made on the drought mandals under the Jala Abhiyan. The district he says is beleaguered by series of droughts.

He said that the paradox of the district is that one part of Rayadurg mandal resembles a fertile region in the Coastal Andhra and another part resembles the desert of Rajasthan. He informed central team massive sand dunes dog much part of the Rayadurg mandal and minus 45 degrees rainfall is registered.

Due to prevailing drought, farmers are evincing interest in raising horticulture plantations, he stated and added that the farmers are raising horticulture plants in an additional 32,000 hectares for which action plans have been formulated.

The Collector gave a power point presentation on the demography of the district. Human Resources Ministry's Joint Secretary speaking on the occasion said that the Jala Shakti Abhiyan is covering five parameters. The scheme will achieve its objectives by September 15.

The final phase of the scheme would conclude by October 1. He called for revival of all water bodies and creation of water harvesting structures within the set time. He urged people to extend their cooperation for realisation of the water conservation mission.