Concern expressed over depleting groundwater level: Collector

Srikakulam: District Collector J Nivas explained to the central team that ground water level has gone down alarmingly in Laveru mandal. As part of implementation of 'Jala Sakthi Abhiyaan' the central team members inspected some identified areas where works relating to preservation of water are needed, on Tuesday.

On the occasion the central team members, D Tirumalesh, A R Sule, Shiva Pratapsingh Thomar, Sowmithrakar, ERP Ahirwar, state Panchayat Raj Commissioner, V Usha Rani released a brochure on 'Jala Sakthi Abhiyaan'.

Speaking on the occasion, the Collector and central team members stressed on the need of ground water protection works under the 'Jala Sakthi Abhiyaan' in the district. They also suggested agriculture, horticulture departments' officials to educate farmers on usage of water to their crops and also importance of ground water.

They also asked District Water Resources Management Agency (DWMA) Project Director (PD), H Kurma Rao to take up ground water protection works on massive scale in all areas where ground water levels are depleted. The central team suggested district officials to promote cultivation of crops through drip and sprinkler irrigation mode to save water.

District officials explained that they are creating awareness among people on construction of soak pits at their houses to save ground water level and also motivate persons for construction of percolation tanks. District fisheries, irrigation, agriculture, forest, panchayat raj, rural water supply, ground water, mines and geology departments' officials attended.